Deluxe Waffle #201 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Thursday, September 17, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #201
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #201.
Hints for each word in #201
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 self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with N.
Show the word
SECTION
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the condition of being free
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with F and ends with M.
Show the word
FREEDOM
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: call upon in supplication
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with E.
Show the word
IMPLORE
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a coming into being
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with S.
Show the word
GENESIS
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the act of separating grain from chaff
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with G.
Show the word
SIFTING
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: lower the grade of something
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with N.
Show the word
CHEAPEN
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adverb: within a building
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with S.
Show the word
INDOORS
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the fourth book of the Old Testament
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with N and ends with S.
Show the word
NUMBERS
What is the answer to Deluxe #201?
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: SECTION, FREEDOM, IMPLORE, GENESIS
Down: SIFTING, CHEAPEN, INDOORS, NUMBERS
How do you solve #201 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 7, column 3. This puts S and N in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts E and P in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 6, column 5. This puts C and R in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 3. This puts I and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 1. This puts E and I in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts D and A in place.
- Swap row 5, column 5 with row 7, column 5. This puts O and S in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 1, column 5. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 5. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 7. This puts T and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 4, column 7. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 7. This puts B in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 6, column 1. This puts H and N in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 3, column 1. This puts F in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 3, column 2. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 2. This puts R and M in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 7, column 4. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 7, column 4 with row 7, column 6. This puts E and I in place.
- Swap row 6, column 3 with row 6, column 7. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 6, column 3 with row 7, column 7. This puts E and S in place.
What do the words in #201 mean?
- SECTION
- noun: a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
- FREEDOM
- noun: the condition of being free
- IMPLORE
- verb: call upon in supplication
- GENESIS
- noun: a coming into being
- SIFTING
- noun: the act of separating grain from chaff
- CHEAPEN
- verb: lower the grade of something
- INDOORS
- adverb: within a building
- NUMBERS
- noun: the fourth book of the Old Testament
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, September 17, 2026.