WSJ Crossword July 8, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 8, 2026, “Don't Give Up,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Joe Marquez with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is PRETZELBITE 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 BOOPS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is LADS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. 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.
10 Across is MAX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Across is SUNSET, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
14 Across is GRIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Across is ARM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with A and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
16 Across is PRETZELBITE, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
18 Across is TEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
19 Across is EMIR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is VAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with V and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is TINCAN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Across is CALIBER, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with C and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
25 Across is JONAH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with J and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Across is CODDLE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is SAWED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
31 Across is TECHNO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
34 Across is ARF, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Across is NILE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Across is DRUMKIT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
41 Across is TIM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with T and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is RIND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
44 Across is EPA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
45 Across is NOISES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with N and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
47 Across is MEDIA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Across is OREGON, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Across is LOGAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Across is WETVACS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with W 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.
57 Across is OPERAS, a 6-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 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
59 Across is NOR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with N and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Across is ISLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is PAL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with P and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Across is STICKWITHIT, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with S and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
65 Across is ALI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
66 Across is SIRI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with S and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is ADREPS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 10. It begins with A 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.
68 Across is LET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
69 Across is INKS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with I and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
70 Across is GOONS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 10. It begins with G and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is BURMA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is ONEIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with O and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is OSTRICH, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with O and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
4 Down is PEZ, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is STEVEDORE, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
6 Down is LGBT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is ARI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is DITTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is STEINS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S 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.
10 Down is MATCHWITS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 9 letters.
11 Down is AREA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is XMEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with X and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Down is SPEC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with S and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
17 Down is LARD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Down is NAAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with N and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is BOND, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
25 Down is JERK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with J and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
27 Down is LAMAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is ELIE, a 4-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 4 letters.
30 Down is DEMS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
31 Down is TERM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with T and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
32 Down is ERIE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is CANDLELIT, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with C and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
35 Down is FINGERWAG, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with F and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
39 Down is UPON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with U and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is TOOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Down is DIOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Down is INVITRO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
48 Down is AGASSI, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is EWOK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with E and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is ASTIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is ASHEN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is CLIPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
56 Down is SETS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with S 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.
57 Down is OPAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is PALE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is NCIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with N 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 Down is IRK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with I and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Down is IDO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 black squares and 8 circled squares that carry the theme. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
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.