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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #153 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Friday, July 31, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #153

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

Want one more try first? Play #153.

Hints for each word in #153

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: earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with T.

    Show the word

    ATTEMPT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the commercial activity of providing funds and capital

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with E.

    Show the word

    FINANCE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: an easy victory

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with B and ends with T.

    Show the word

    BLOWOUT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with E.

    Show the word

    ESSENCE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: diffusing warmth and friendliness

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with E.

    Show the word

    AFFABLE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: having thin consistency

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with S.

    Show the word

    TENUOUS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a seasonal wind in southern Asia

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with M and ends with N.

    Show the word

    MONSOON

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a supporting tower used to support a bridge

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with E.

    Show the word

    TRESTLE

What is the answer to Deluxe #153?

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: ATTEMPT, FINANCE, BLOWOUT, ESSENCE

Down: AFFABLE, TENUOUS, MONSOON, TRESTLE

How do you solve #153 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 1, column 6. This puts T and P in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 7, column 6. This puts T and C in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 4, column 5. This puts T and S in place.
  4. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 7, column 4. This puts O and E in place.
  5. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts N and O in place.
  6. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts A and L in place.
  7. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 6, column 1. This puts U and L in place.
  8. Swap row 5, column 4 with row 6, column 3. This puts W and U in place.
  9. Swap row 7, column 3 with row 7, column 5. This puts S and N in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 7. This puts E in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 6, column 5. This puts O in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 4. This puts A in place.
  13. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts M and E in place.
  14. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 3, column 2. This puts I in place.
  15. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 4, column 7. This puts S in place.
  16. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 5, column 5. This puts R and O in place.
  17. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 1. This puts B in place.
  18. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 7. This puts E in place.
  19. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 5. This puts N in place.
  20. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts F and U in place.

What do the words in #153 mean?

ATTEMPT
noun: earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
FINANCE
noun: the commercial activity of providing funds and capital
BLOWOUT
noun: an easy victory
ESSENCE
noun: the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
AFFABLE
adjective: diffusing warmth and friendliness
TENUOUS
adjective: having thin consistency
MONSOON
noun: a seasonal wind in southern Asia
TRESTLE
noun: a supporting tower used to support a bridge

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Friday, July 31, 2026.