Deluxe Waffle #200 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Wednesday, September 16, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #200
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #200.
Hints for each word in #200
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 planner who draws up a personal scheme of action
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with R.
Show the word
SCHEMER
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a philosopher who believes that universals are real and exist independently of anyone thinking of them
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with T.
Show the word
REALIST
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a mound of earth made by ants as they dig their nest
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with L.
Show the word
ANTHILL
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: someone who controls resources and expenditures
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with M and ends with R.
Show the word
MANAGER
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: witty language used to convey insults or scorn
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with M.
Show the word
SARCASM
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: give encouragement to
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with H and ends with N.
Show the word
HEARTEN
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: mail sent by a sender at one time
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with M and ends with G.
Show the word
MAILING
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with R.
Show the word
RATTLER
What is the answer to Deluxe #200?
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: SCHEMER, REALIST, ANTHILL, MANAGER
Down: SARCASM, HEARTEN, MAILING, RATTLER
How do you solve #200 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 2 with row 3, column 7. This puts C and T in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 7, column 2. This puts E and A in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 5. This puts E and I in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 7, column 5. This puts A and G in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 6. This puts S and E in place.
- Swap row 5, column 5 with row 6, column 3. This puts I and E in place.
- Swap row 6, column 1 with row 7, column 4. This puts S and A in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 1. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 6, column 5. This puts R and N in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 2, column 3. This puts M in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 7. This puts E and L in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 2, column 7. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 5, column 2. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 5, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts N and T in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 1. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 4. This puts L and H in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 6, column 7 with row 7, column 1. This puts M in place.
- Swap row 6, column 7 with row 7, column 3. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 6, column 7 with row 7, column 7. This puts E and R in place.
What do the words in #200 mean?
- SCHEMER
- noun: a planner who draws up a personal scheme of action
- REALIST
- noun: a philosopher who believes that universals are real and exist independently of anyone thinking of them
- ANTHILL
- noun: a mound of earth made by ants as they dig their nest
- MANAGER
- noun: someone who controls resources and expenditures
- SARCASM
- noun: witty language used to convey insults or scorn
- HEARTEN
- verb: give encouragement to
- MAILING
- noun: mail sent by a sender at one time
- RATTLER
- noun: pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, September 16, 2026.