WSJ Crossword July 27, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 27, 2026, “Brief Exchange,” is a Monday puzzle by Mat Holmes with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is FRANKDISCUSSION at 15 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 LEGIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is MADAM, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with M and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Across is BAA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
14 Across is OZONE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ALONE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is AID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Across is PRIVATECHAT, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with P and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
19 Across is NOR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with N and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Across is SANE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Across is AVO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Across is EAGLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Across is SPREADGOSSIP, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with S and ends with P, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
28 Across is RESTUP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with R and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Across is OURS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
32 Across is ETHIC, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is DSLR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with D and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is PRO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with P and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Across is FRANKDISCUSSION, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with F and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters.
42 Across is SEW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is IONE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is ETUDE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
45 Across is AWED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is CEASES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with C and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Across is BEDTIMESTORY, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
53 Across is STIEG, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is TOT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
55 Across is HMOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Across is IAN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Across is OSCARSPEECH, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with O and ends with H, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
64 Across is DIG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with D and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
65 Across is UHURA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with U and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is ORATE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is ELS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
68 Across is TEETH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with T and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
69 Across is GENOA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with G and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is LOPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
2 Down is EZRA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is GOIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with G and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is INVESTIN, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with I and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
5 Down is TEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is MAEVE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is ALCOA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is DOH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with D and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is ANA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
10 Down is METEOR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with M and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is BANGS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
12 Down is AIOLI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is ADREP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with A and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is TARP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
23 Down is ASS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is PUCK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with P and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is DOLCE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is GURU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with G and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is REFS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
29 Down is ETRE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is SHAW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Down is DIODE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with D and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is SSN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with S and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Down is PIUS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
36 Down is RODE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is ONES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is DIEM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with D and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is SEER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is STAYHERE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
45 Down is ATE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Down is WIGOUT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with W and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is COTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
48 Down is BSIDE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is ETAIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is DINGS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
51 Down is START, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
52 Down is TORAH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with T and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is MEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with M and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is OCTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is SHEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is SHE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is CUE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Down is POG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with P and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 35 Across and 43 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
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.