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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #187 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Thursday, September 3, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #187

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

Want one more try first? Play #187.

Hints for each word in #187

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: the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with N.

    Show the word

    FIFTEEN

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with S.

    Show the word

    STRIPES

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with L.

    Show the word

    IMMORAL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: appointed for life and not subject to dismissal except for a grave crime

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with D.

    Show the word

    TENURED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: relating to or characteristic of fascism

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with T.

    Show the word

    FASCIST

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: play in which children pretend to put out a fire

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with N.

    Show the word

    FIREMAN

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the male ruler of an empire

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with R.

    Show the word

    EMPEROR

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with N and ends with D.

    Show the word

    NESTLED

What is the answer to Deluxe #187?

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: FIFTEEN, STRIPES, IMMORAL, TENURED

Down: FASCIST, FIREMAN, EMPEROR, NESTLED

How do you solve #187 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 11 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 1, column 6. This puts F and E in place.
  2. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 7, column 6. This puts I and E in place.
  3. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 1. This puts M and S in place.
  4. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 3, column 2. This puts E and T in place.
  5. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts P and T in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 4. This puts I in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 4, column 7. This puts T in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 7, column 2. This puts F in place.
  9. Swap row 7, column 2 with row 7, column 7. This puts E and D in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 1, column 7. This puts E in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 6, column 1. This puts N and S in place.
  12. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 7. This puts R in place.
  13. Swap row 5, column 7 with row 6, column 7. This puts L and E in place.
  14. Swap row 3, column 7 with row 5, column 4. This puts S in place.
  15. Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 4. This puts O and U in place.
  16. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts E in place.
  17. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts M in place.
  18. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 6, column 3. This puts I and A in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 3 with row 5, column 6. This puts A in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 3 with row 7, column 3. This puts M and N in place.

What do the words in #187 mean?

FIFTEEN
noun: the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
STRIPES
noun: V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service
IMMORAL
adjective: deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong
TENURED
adjective: appointed for life and not subject to dismissal except for a grave crime
FASCIST
adjective: relating to or characteristic of fascism
FIREMAN
noun: play in which children pretend to put out a fire
EMPEROR
noun: the male ruler of an empire
NESTLED
adjective: drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, September 3, 2026.