Deluxe Waffle #1 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Sunday, March 1, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #1
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #1.
Hints for each word in #1
Tap one hint at a time. The clue comes first. Then you get the first and last letters. The word shows only when you tap the last button.
Word 1: the first row (row 1)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: spoiled through incompetence or clumsiness
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with D.
Show the word
BUNGLED
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: increase in size, volume or significance
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with Y.
Show the word
AMPLIFY
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: something given or done as an expression of esteem
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with E.
Show the word
TRIBUTE
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a polite refusal of an invitation
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with S.
Show the word
REGRETS
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a workman employed to blast with explosives
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with R.
Show the word
BLASTER
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: not prepared or vigilant
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with N and ends with G.
Show the word
NAPPING
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: time available for ease and relaxation
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with L and ends with E.
Show the word
LEISURE
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with S.
Show the word
DRYNESS
What is the answer to Deluxe #1?
The answer is 8 words that fit together in one grid. Tap below to see all of them. This puzzle has only one answer, so if your words differ, a letter is still in the wrong place.
Show the full answer grid
Across: BUNGLED, AMPLIFY, TRIBUTE, REGRETS
Down: BLASTER, NAPPING, LEISURE, DRYNESS
How do you solve #1 in 20 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 12 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 4, column 3. This puts E and P in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 3, column 4. This puts D and L in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 7, column 2. This puts L and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 6, column 5. This puts I and R in place.
- Swap row 5, column 2 with row 5, column 6. This puts R and T in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 2. This puts B in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts U and I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 3. This puts P in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 7, column 3. This puts N and G in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 7. This puts Y in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 7, column 6. This puts L and T in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 5. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 6, column 1. This puts A and E in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 4, column 1. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 4. This puts S and B in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 1. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 7, column 5. This puts A and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 6. This puts F in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 4, column 7. This puts M and N in place.
What do the words in #1 mean?
- BUNGLED
- adjective: spoiled through incompetence or clumsiness
- AMPLIFY
- verb: increase in size, volume or significance
- TRIBUTE
- noun: something given or done as an expression of esteem
- REGRETS
- noun: a polite refusal of an invitation
- BLASTER
- noun: a workman employed to blast with explosives
- NAPPING
- adjective: not prepared or vigilant
- LEISURE
- noun: time available for ease and relaxation
- DRYNESS
- noun: the condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water)
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Sunday, March 1, 2026.