Deluxe Waffle #198 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Monday, September 14, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #198
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #198.
Hints for each word in #198
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
verb: be incompatible
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with E.
Show the word
COLLIDE
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: small room in which a monk or nun lives
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with E.
Show the word
CUBICLE
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: someone who attacks in search of booty
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with A.
Show the word
PIRANHA
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: unbearable physical pain
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with T.
Show the word
TORMENT
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with T.
Show the word
COCKPIT
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: someone who works with their hands
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with L and ends with R.
Show the word
LABORER
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with E.
Show the word
INCENSE
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with T.
Show the word
ELEGANT
What is the answer to Deluxe #198?
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: COLLIDE, CUBICLE, PIRANHA, TORMENT
Down: COCKPIT, LABORER, INCENSE, ELEGANT
How do you solve #198 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 1 with row 5, column 7. This puts C and A in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 7. This puts N and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 2. This puts L and O in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts K and I in place.
- Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 5. This puts O and N in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 7, column 7. This puts E and T in place.
- Swap row 5, column 1 with row 7, column 5. This puts P and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 4. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 2. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 4, column 7. This puts U and G in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 2, column 7. This puts D in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 6, column 1. This puts L and I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 5, column 4. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 7, column 4. This puts M in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 7, column 6. This puts E and N in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 3. This puts B in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 6, column 3. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 7, column 1. This puts C and T in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 6, column 5. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 7, column 3. This puts I and R in place.
What do the words in #198 mean?
- COLLIDE
- verb: be incompatible
- CUBICLE
- noun: small room in which a monk or nun lives
- PIRANHA
- noun: someone who attacks in search of booty
- TORMENT
- noun: unbearable physical pain
- COCKPIT
- noun: compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft
- LABORER
- noun: someone who works with their hands
- INCENSE
- noun: a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
- ELEGANT
- adjective: refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Monday, September 14, 2026.