WSJ Crossword July 26, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 26, 2026, “Stroke Of Luck,” is a Sunday puzzle by Freddie Cheng with 74 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is COMPACTDISC at 11 letters.
Every answer is listed below in grid order, Across first and then Down, with a short explanation of how the entry sits in the grid. Use the Definition link under any entry to pull the dictionary meaning of the answer word, or click the clue to open its own page with past appearances and neighboring clues.
Across
1 Across is FOR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with F and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is PASTA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
9 Across is JEERS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with J and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
14 Across is IRE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is SLURP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
16 Across is EASEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
17 Across is LIFESAVER, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with L and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
19 Across is WROTE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is MOIST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with M and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is VIP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with V and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
23 Across is TRU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with T and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Across is ELLA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is TOILETSEAT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with T and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
29 Across is DELUDES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with D and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
31 Across is CHURCH, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with C and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
32 Across is EMCEE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is EDITS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
36 Across is COMPACTDISC, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with C and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
39 Across is STORE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is ROUES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with R and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
42 Across is PIZZAS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Across is DATASET, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with D and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
49 Across is ONIONBAGEL, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with O and ends with L, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
52 Across is THAI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with T and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Across is OWE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
54 Across is ACL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
55 Across is STORM, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
56 Across is FADES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with F and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is HOLEINONE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with H and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 9 letters.
62 Across is ERUPT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is EVENT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is EEL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
65 Across is REPAY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is DEEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is DRY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is FILMED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with F and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is ORIOLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is REFILL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with R and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is PSST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is SUV, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
7 Down is TREVI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with T and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is APRIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is JEW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with J and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is EAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
11 Down is ESOTERIC, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with E and ends with C, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
12 Down is RETRACT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
13 Down is SLEUTHS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
18 Down is ESAU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with E and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is PEC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with P and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is TEMP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is OSCAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is THEIST, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Down is SUDS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Down is DEMEAN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with D and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
33 Down is ECO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
34 Down is ETUDE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is COZIEDUP, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with C and ends with P, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
37 Down is ORZO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is DEAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with D and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is SPOOFER, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Down is TINWARE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with T and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is SBA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
45 Down is ATTN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with A and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
46 Down is SHOOED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is EARNER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with E and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is TIMELY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is ACHED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is GLOVE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is SITS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is EPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 4. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
58 Down is STY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is LEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is END, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with E and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 35 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
Prefer to solve it yourself first? The homepage lists every clue for the latest puzzle without answers, and the archive covers every WSJ crossword in our index by date. The official puzzle is published on the WSJ Puzzles page.