Deluxe Waffle #129 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Tuesday, July 7, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #129
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #129.
Hints for each word in #129
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 move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with W and ends with E.
Show the word
WRIGGLE
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a state in which all hope is lost or absent
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with R.
Show the word
DESPAIR
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: creating fabric
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with W and ends with G.
Show the word
WEAVING
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: not as far along as normal in development
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with D.
Show the word
DELAYED
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: single because of death of the spouse
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with W and ends with D.
Show the word
WIDOWED
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: set up for use
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with L.
Show the word
INSTALL
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with Y.
Show the word
GRAVITY
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: marked by extreme anger
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with D.
Show the word
ENRAGED
What is the answer to Deluxe #129?
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: WRIGGLE, DESPAIR, WEAVING, DELAYED
Down: WIDOWED, INSTALL, GRAVITY, ENRAGED
How do you solve #129 in 20 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 11 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 7. This puts N and R in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 6, column 3. This puts N and L in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 6, column 5. This puts P and T in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 6, column 1. This puts V and E in place.
- Swap row 5, column 3 with row 7, column 5. This puts A and Y in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 2, column 1. This puts W in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 2, column 5. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 7, column 6. This puts R and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 3, column 1. This puts D in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 5, column 1. This puts L and W in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 4, column 1. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts O and N in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 4, column 7. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 4. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 3. This puts V and L in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 3. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 5. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 5, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts I and D in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 4, column 3. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 7. This puts I and D in place.
What do the words in #129 mean?
- WRIGGLE
- verb: to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
- DESPAIR
- noun: a state in which all hope is lost or absent
- WEAVING
- noun: creating fabric
- DELAYED
- adjective: not as far along as normal in development
- WIDOWED
- adjective: single because of death of the spouse
- INSTALL
- verb: set up for use
- GRAVITY
- noun: (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe
- ENRAGED
- adjective: marked by extreme anger
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, July 7, 2026.