WSJ Crossword July 7, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 7, 2026, “Playing Around,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Brian Keller with 78 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 ARCHERYBULLSEYE 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 INAPP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with I and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is ASKS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is ARCO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is MOMOA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is UHUH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with U and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is KEEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with K and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is PRYOR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with P and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
18 Across is DINO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is ISLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is BOXINGVENUES, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with B and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
23 Across is BASALT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Across is FEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
27 Across is MRI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with M and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Across is ARCHERYBULLSEYE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters.
32 Across is DEA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Across is DATA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is SSN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Across is EATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is DMS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with D and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
39 Across is LOOK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with L and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is AGT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is BEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with B and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Across is MII, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Across is GYMNASTICSEVENT, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 15 letters.
55 Across is NEA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
56 Across is SHY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Across is STINKS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
58 Across is OLYMPICRINGS, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 12 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
62 Across is MPAA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is ROAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with R and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is AHMED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is EENY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is TOFU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with T and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
70 Across is INAWE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
71 Across is ORSO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
72 Across is SNAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
73 Across is NUDES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with N 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.
Down
1 Down is IMP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with I and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is NOR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with N and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
3 Down is AMY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is POOBAH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with P and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is PAROLED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
6 Down is AUDI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is SHIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is KUNGFU, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with K and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is SHOVELS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. 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.
10 Down is AKIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is RESUME, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
12 Down is CELERY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Down is ONESIE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Down is XTRA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with X and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Down is EELS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with E 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.
23 Down is BADE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is AREA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is SCAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Down is YTD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with Y and ends with D, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Down is BAMBI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with B and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is SNL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with S and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Down is SAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Down is SEC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with S and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Down is OMEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is OINK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with O and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Down is KITS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 15. It begins with K 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.
44 Down is GASP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with G and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Down is TSHIRTS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
47 Down is ASSN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with A and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Down is NETGAIN, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with N and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
50 Down is GNOMEO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with G and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Down is YELPER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with Y and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Down is MAYANS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 3. 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.
53 Down is TYCOON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
54 Down is VISHNU, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with V and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
59 Down is MAYO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is RAFA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is IMUP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with I and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Down is MAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Down is EWE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
67 Down is DES, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with D 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.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 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.