Deluxe Waffle #181 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Friday, August 28, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #181
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #181.
Hints for each word in #181
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
noun: a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with E.
Show the word
PREFACE
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with T.
Show the word
AFFRONT
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with T.
Show the word
ABREAST
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: something very ugly and offensive
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with E.
Show the word
EYESORE
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: cause to be more favorably inclined
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with E.
Show the word
PLACATE
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: ensure observance of laws and rules
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with E.
Show the word
ENFORCE
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a pear-shaped tropical fruit with green or blackish skin and rich yellowish pulp enclosing a single large seed
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with O.
Show the word
AVOCADO
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: give the right to
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with E.
Show the word
ENTITLE
What is the answer to Deluxe #181?
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: PREFACE, AFFRONT, ABREAST, EYESORE
Down: PLACATE, ENFORCE, AVOCADO, ENTITLE
How do you solve #181 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
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 1, column 6. This puts E and C in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 7, column 7. This puts F and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 7, column 2. This puts R and Y in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts O and A in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 5, column 7. This puts C and T in place.
- Swap row 5, column 6 with row 6, column 3. This puts S and C in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 5. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 2, column 5. This puts P and V in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 5, column 4. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 7, column 5. This puts R and O in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 6, column 5. This puts D in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 6, column 7. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 6, column 7 with row 7, column 4. This puts L and S in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 7. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 4, column 3. This puts L and O in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 4, column 7. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts B in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 7, column 3. This puts C and E in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 6, column 1. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 6, column 1 with row 7, column 1. This puts T and E in place.
What do the words in #181 mean?
- PREFACE
- noun: a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
- AFFRONT
- noun: a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect
- ABREAST
- adjective: being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
- EYESORE
- noun: something very ugly and offensive
- PLACATE
- verb: cause to be more favorably inclined
- ENFORCE
- verb: ensure observance of laws and rules
- AVOCADO
- noun: a pear-shaped tropical fruit with green or blackish skin and rich yellowish pulp enclosing a single large seed
- ENTITLE
- verb: give the right to
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Friday, August 28, 2026.