WSJ Crossword June 30, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 30, 2026, “Overstepping,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Paul Hudes with 76 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 TAKESCREDIT 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 RASP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is FACT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with F and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is TSPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with T and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Across is EPEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is EVOKE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is ATIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is SEVASTOPOL, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is KALI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with K and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is EXE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
21 Across is PUNY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Across is SEEGER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with S and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Across is TARDIS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Across is COARSE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with C and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is MEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with M and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Across is CAN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with C and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Across is ACHOO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is NEGATED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with N and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
36 Across is ROMP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with R and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Across is TRANSAM, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Across is BADEGGS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with B 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.
42 Across is MOBY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
43 Across is RESIDED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with R and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Across is IZODS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with I 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.
47 Across is ROT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Across is FIST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with F and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
51 Across is VERBAL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with V and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
53 Across is LETTER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Across is STEVIA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
57 Across is FLAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with F and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Across is UAE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Across is HOPI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with H and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is BREAKDANCE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with B and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
64 Across is ANAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is EAGLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is STUD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is HERO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with H and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is TEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is ISPY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is RESET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is APEXAM, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is SEVERE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is PEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
5 Down is FETUS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with F and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is AVON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is COPYCAT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with C and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
8 Down is TKO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with T and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
9 Down is TAKESCREDIT, a 11-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with T and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
10 Down is STAGEHOG, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with S and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
11 Down is PILE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is STIR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Down is ELSA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Down is SPINES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. 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.
23 Down is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Down is DANNYDEVITO, a 11-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with D and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
27 Down is ONEBIT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with O and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Down is CAMERA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with C and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Down is OMG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with O and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is OPS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is GAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with G and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Down is DAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with D and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is TMI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Down is ROZ, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with R and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is ABOVEPAR, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with A and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
41 Down is DEFEND, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with D and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Down is SOLFEGE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
46 Down is SRI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Down is STUNTS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
50 Down is TEACUP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with T and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Down is BABE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is LAKER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is REEDY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is SHAH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is TONE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is LALA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Down is RAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Down is ASI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 38 Across and 38 Down entries, with 37 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.