WSJ Crossword July 3, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 3, 2026, “Shades of Difference,” is a Friday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution. The longest entry is REDWHITEANDBLUE 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 SOHO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is AMIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Across is BLUT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Across is OMAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is WRITE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
15 Across is RARA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is ANNBEATTIE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
18 Across is ERGO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is RID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Across is ODIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Across is DRAKES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with D 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.
23 Across is CLUE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is ACED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is STRIP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
27 Across is WHOOSHES, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with W and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
31 Across is ATEAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Across is SEER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Across is ADE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
34 Across is REDWHITEANDBLUE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with R and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
38 Across is MAD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Across is RUDD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Across is SLACK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Across is SLYGRINS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
44 Across is WHILE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
45 Across is LOST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
46 Across is WRAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with W and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Across is RIYADH, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with R and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Across is CHER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
51 Across is SPA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
54 Across is ODES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Across is STAINPROOF, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with F, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
58 Across is PEAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. 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.
59 Across is EASTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with E 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.
60 Across is BLUR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with B and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Across is EASY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is ARKS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with A 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.
63 Across is GOTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is SOAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is OMNI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is HAND, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with H and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is ORB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with O and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is ARTIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is MITE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is ITI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is SEEDCORN, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
9 Down is BREADS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is LARK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with L and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
11 Down is URGE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with U and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is TAOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Down is WADUP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with W and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Down is EOLITH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with E and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Down is REO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
23 Down is CRAW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with C and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Down is AHEAD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is STEAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with S and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is TEDDY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
27 Down is WEEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with W 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.
28 Down is HALAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is EDUCE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is SEEK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with S and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Down is ARMS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
32 Down is STUNT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
35 Down is IRISHSEA, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with I and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
36 Down is DSHARP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with D and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
37 Down is BLIP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with B and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Down is GLASSY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with G and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
43 Down is ROD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Down is WRENS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with W 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.
46 Down is WHITS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with W 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.
47 Down is ROPE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Down is IDEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Down is YEAS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with Y 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.
50 Down is CASK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with C and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
51 Down is SOLO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is POUT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is AFRO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is TAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Down is RBG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with R and ends with G, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Friday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution.
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.