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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #185 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Tuesday, September 1, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #185

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

Want one more try first? Play #185.

Hints for each word in #185

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: lacking in energy or will

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with E.

    Show the word

    PASSIVE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a path over which electrical signals can pass

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with L.

    Show the word

    CHANNEL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: more often or more frequently

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with R.

    Show the word

    OFTENER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: watch and direct

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with E.

    Show the word

    OVERSEE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a small flute

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with O.

    Show the word

    PICCOLO

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: to stimulate to action

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with E.

    Show the word

    STARTLE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the batting turn of a cricket player or team

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with S.

    Show the word

    INNINGS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: make larger

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with E.

    Show the word

    ENLARGE

What is the answer to Deluxe #185?

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: PASSIVE, CHANNEL, OFTENER, OVERSEE

Down: PICCOLO, STARTLE, INNINGS, ENLARGE

How do you solve #185 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 10 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

Show every swap
  1. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts I and N in place.
  2. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 5, column 4. This puts N and E in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 2, column 3. This puts T in place.
  4. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 6, column 3. This puts P and L in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 2. This puts F in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 6, column 5. This puts S and G in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 4, column 3. This puts E in place.
  8. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 4, column 3. This puts R in place.
  9. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 4, column 5. This puts N and I in place.
  10. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 3. This puts T in place.
  11. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts C and E in place.
  12. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 7. This puts H in place.
  13. Swap row 3, column 7 with row 5, column 7. This puts L and R in place.
  14. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 4, column 1. This puts N in place.
  15. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 4, column 7. This puts A in place.
  16. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 4. This puts E and R in place.
  17. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 7, column 5. This puts S in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 7, column 7. This puts C and E in place.
  19. Swap row 7, column 1 with row 7, column 2. This puts V in place.
  20. Swap row 7, column 1 with row 7, column 6. This puts O and E in place.

What do the words in #185 mean?

PASSIVE
adjective: lacking in energy or will
CHANNEL
noun: a path over which electrical signals can pass
OFTENER
adverb: more often or more frequently
OVERSEE
verb: watch and direct
PICCOLO
noun: a small flute
STARTLE
verb: to stimulate to action
INNINGS
noun: the batting turn of a cricket player or team
ENLARGE
verb: make larger

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, September 1, 2026.