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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #138 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Thursday, July 16, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #138

8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.

Want one more try first? Play #138.

Hints for each word in #138

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.

  1. Word 1: the first row (row 1)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: formality and propriety of manner

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with E.

    Show the word

    RESERVE

  2. Word 2: the second row (row 3)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a thief who enters a building with intent to steal

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with B and ends with R.

    Show the word

    BURGLAR

  3. Word 3: the third row (row 5)

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: not exact

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with T.

    Show the word

    INEXACT

  4. Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: occurring among members of a family usually by heredity

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with C.

    Show the word

    GENETIC

  5. Word 5: the first column (column 1)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a framework of ribs

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with G.

    Show the word

    RIBBING

  6. Word 6: the second column (column 3)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a physician who specializes in surgery

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with N.

    Show the word

    SURGEON

  7. Word 7: the third column (column 5)

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: relying on another for support

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with T.

    Show the word

    RELIANT

  8. Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with C.

    Show the word

    ERRATIC

What is the answer to Deluxe #138?

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: RESERVE, BURGLAR, INEXACT, GENETIC

Down: RIBBING, SURGEON, RELIANT, ERRATIC

How do you solve #138 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
  1. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 3. This puts E and R in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 2, column 3. This puts E and U in place.
  3. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 5. This puts U and A in place.
  4. Swap row 3, column 7 with row 6, column 7. This puts R and I in place.
  5. Swap row 4, column 7 with row 5, column 4. This puts A and X in place.
  6. Swap row 6, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts N and G in place.
  7. Swap row 7, column 3 with row 7, column 4. This puts N and E in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 6. This puts R in place.
  9. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 5, column 7. This puts A and T in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 1, column 5. This puts R in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts S in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 1. This puts B in place.
  13. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 5. This puts L in place.
  14. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 4, column 5. This puts E and I in place.
  15. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 2, column 7. This puts R in place.
  16. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 5, column 2. This puts V and N in place.
  17. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts E in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 7, column 7. This puts G and C in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts I in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 6 with row 6, column 3. This puts C and O in place.

What do the words in #138 mean?

RESERVE
noun: formality and propriety of manner
BURGLAR
noun: a thief who enters a building with intent to steal
INEXACT
adjective: not exact
GENETIC
adjective: occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
RIBBING
noun: a framework of ribs
SURGEON
noun: a physician who specializes in surgery
RELIANT
adjective: relying on another for support
ERRATIC
adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, July 16, 2026.