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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #176 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Sunday, August 23, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #176

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

Want one more try first? Play #176.

Hints for each word in #176

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

    adjective: concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with D.

    Show the word

    APPLIED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: meat from a deer used as food

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with V and ends with N.

    Show the word

    VENISON

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: building material used as siding or roofing

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with E.

    Show the word

    SHINGLE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: with honesty

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    RIGHTLY

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: an expert who gives advice

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with R.

    Show the word

    ADVISER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the act of creating written works

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with G.

    Show the word

    PENNING

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: clear or deep perception of a situation

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with T.

    Show the word

    INSIGHT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: in a stupid manner

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    DENSELY

What is the answer to Deluxe #176?

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: APPLIED, VENISON, SHINGLE, RIGHTLY

Down: ADVISER, PENNING, INSIGHT, DENSELY

How do you solve #176 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 1 with row 2, column 7. This puts A and E in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 7, column 3. This puts P and G in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 1, column 6. This puts L and E in place.
  4. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 5, column 2. This puts I and H in place.
  5. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 5. This puts I and G in place.
  6. Swap row 3, column 7 with row 5, column 1. This puts N and S in place.
  7. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 7. This puts N and E in place.
  8. Swap row 4, column 7 with row 6, column 5. This puts S and H in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 5. This puts P in place.
  10. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 1. This puts V in place.
  11. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 6. This puts D and O in place.
  12. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 4, column 1. This puts E in place.
  13. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 6, column 7. This puts I in place.
  14. Swap row 6, column 7 with row 7, column 1. This puts L and R in place.
  15. Swap row 4, column 5 with row 6, column 3. This puts I in place.
  16. Swap row 5, column 4 with row 5, column 6. This puts N in place.
  17. Swap row 5, column 6 with row 6, column 1. This puts L in place.
  18. Swap row 6, column 1 with row 7, column 5. This puts E and T in place.
  19. Swap row 6, column 3 with row 7, column 4. This puts H in place.
  20. Swap row 6, column 3 with row 7, column 7. This puts N and Y in place.

What do the words in #176 mean?

APPLIED
adjective: concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles
VENISON
noun: meat from a deer used as food
SHINGLE
noun: building material used as siding or roofing
RIGHTLY
adverb: with honesty
ADVISER
noun: an expert who gives advice
PENNING
noun: the act of creating written works
INSIGHT
noun: clear or deep perception of a situation
DENSELY
adverb: in a stupid manner

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Sunday, August 23, 2026.