WSJ Crossword July 9, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 9, 2026, “Dress Code,” is a Thursday puzzle by Sam Koperwas & Jeff Chen with 69 clues on a 15×15 grid. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place. The longest entry is INAUGURALBALL at 13 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 ALIBI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is ROT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Across is JUDGE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with J and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is NOVAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. 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.
15 Across is EDU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
16 Across is ONION, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is TRANS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
18 Across is SON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
19 Across is GFLAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
20 Across is INAUGURALBALL, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 2. It begins with I and ends with L, with 6 vowels among its 13 letters.
23 Across is NEWB, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with N and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Across is TORI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with T and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is ACADEMYAWARDS, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with A and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters.
30 Across is NIL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with N and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Across is NIECE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Across is OWL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with O and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Across is IRE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
35 Across is TWO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with T and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Across is WOE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
37 Across is CIA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with C and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Across is NON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with N and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Across is HER, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with H and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is HOP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with H and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is SSN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with S and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Across is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
45 Across is SUCRE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Across is THY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
48 Across is STATEDINNER, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with S and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
53 Across is MADEHAY, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
55 Across is STAREAT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with S and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
58 Across is GRAMMYS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 7 letters.
59 Across is METGALA, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 9. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
60 Across is SKYPES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
61 Across is ROOMER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 10. It begins with R and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
Down
1 Down is ANT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is LORI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with L and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is IVAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is BANANA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with B and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is ISSUED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with I and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is RESUBMIT, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
7 Down is ODOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is TUNATACO, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with T and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
9 Down is JOGBRA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with J and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is UNFAIR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with U and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is DILL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with D and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
12 Down is GOAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with G and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is ENT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is GWEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with G and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Down is LOWE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is AIRIER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with A and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Down is CLEARASDAY, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
27 Down is YEW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with Y and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Down is DOWNSTREAM, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with D and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
29 Down is SWOOSH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with S and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
30 Down is NICHE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is LENNY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
40 Down is HUEYS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with H 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.
41 Down is OCD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 8. It begins with O and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
42 Down is PRISM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with P and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
45 Down is STAYS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
46 Down is ENTER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is TEMP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
50 Down is AHME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is NATO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is ERGO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is MGS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
54 Down is ARK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with A and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Down is ALE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Down is TAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 34 Across and 35 Down entries, with 55 black squares. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place.
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.