WSJ Crossword July 28, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 28, 2026, “Bird Is the Word,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Jay Silverman with 77 clues on a 15×15 grid. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint. The longest entry is DUCKSINAROW 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 DEAD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is LUCKY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
10 Across is LAME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ELLO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is APHID, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is USED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with U and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
17 Across is EVIL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
18 Across is GRADS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
19 Across is MINI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is DISCO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is ODD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with O and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Across is ROAST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Across is STEREO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with S and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Across is IWANNA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is AGT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is ERS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. 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.
30 Across is MECCAS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
33 Across is SAHARA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
37 Across is DONALD, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with D and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
38 Across is PEKING, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with P and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
40 Across is ADDLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is ERR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with E and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is SAGGY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
45 Across is REO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is SALIENT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
49 Across is HER, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with H and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Across is NSFW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with N and ends with W, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is SAVES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with S 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.
53 Across is STRO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with S and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Across is DUCKSINAROW, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with D and ends with W, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
57 Across is ATARI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is TET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Across is OLIVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is TRYST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with T and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is IRE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
65 Across is LINES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is MISTY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
67 Across is CAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
68 Across is EDGES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is DEED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ELVIS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is ALIST, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is DOLCE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is LAG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with L and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is UPROOTS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with U 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.
7 Down is CHAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with C and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is KIDDIES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with K 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.
9 Down is YDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with Y and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
10 Down is LUMON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is ASIAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is MENSA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is EDIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Down is ORACLES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with O 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.
23 Down is RASHEST, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
25 Down is EGAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with E and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is WRAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with W and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Down is MODES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with M 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.
31 Down is ENDOFDAYS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
32 Down is CAL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with C and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is AKA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Down is RIGHTWING, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with R and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 9 letters.
36 Down is ANGER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is DARN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Down is GYRO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 15. It begins with G and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Down is ELASTIC, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with E and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is RIVIERA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with R and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is REENTER, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 9. It begins with R and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
47 Down is ASK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with A and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Down is NSA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with N and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
51 Down is WURST, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
53 Down is SOLID, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is CITY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is ROLE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
57 Down is ATM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is TRI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with T and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is VEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with V and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is ESS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 39 Across and 38 Down entries, with 42 black squares. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint.
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.