Deluxe Waffle #116 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Wednesday, June 24, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #116
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #116.
Hints for each word in #116
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
verb: to consider or examine in speech or writing
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with S.
Show the word
DISCUSS
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a particular society at a particular time and place
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with E.
Show the word
CULTURE
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: register formally as a participant or member
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with T.
Show the word
RECRUIT
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: having edges that are jagged from injury
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with M and ends with D.
Show the word
MANGLED
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: propriety in manners and conduct
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with M.
Show the word
DECORUM
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a tetravalent nonmetallic element
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with N.
Show the word
SILICON
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: not usual or common or ordinary
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with U and ends with L.
Show the word
UNUSUAL
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: having the sense of smell
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with D.
Show the word
SCENTED
What is the answer to Deluxe #116?
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: DISCUSS, CULTURE, RECRUIT, MANGLED
Down: DECORUM, SILICON, UNUSUAL, SCENTED
How do you solve #116 in 20 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 9 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 3. This puts I and L in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 5. This puts I and S in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 7, column 6. This puts C and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 5. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 4. This puts C in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts D and I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 2, column 5. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 5, column 1. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 7, column 3. This puts S and N in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 6. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 1. This puts R and M in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 5. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 2. This puts I and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 5. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 6, column 5. This puts T and A in place.
- Swap row 3, column 7 with row 5, column 3. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 5, column 3 with row 6, column 3. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 5, column 3 with row 7, column 2. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 5, column 3 with row 7, column 7. This puts C and D in place.
What do the words in #116 mean?
- DISCUSS
- verb: to consider or examine in speech or writing
- CULTURE
- noun: a particular society at a particular time and place
- RECRUIT
- verb: register formally as a participant or member
- MANGLED
- adjective: having edges that are jagged from injury
- DECORUM
- noun: propriety in manners and conduct
- SILICON
- noun: a tetravalent nonmetallic element
- UNUSUAL
- adjective: not usual or common or ordinary
- SCENTED
- adjective: having the sense of smell
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, June 24, 2026.