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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #202 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Friday, September 18, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #202

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

Want one more try first? Play #202.

Hints for each word in #202

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: a mixture of lime or gypsum with sand and water

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with R.

    Show the word

    PLASTER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: someone versed in the collection and interpretation of numerical data (especially someone who uses statistics to calculate insurance premiums)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    ACTUARY

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: having or manifesting hope

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with H and ends with L.

    Show the word

    HOPEFUL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: payment to the holder of a patent or copyright or resource for the right to use their property

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    ROYALTY

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: someone who hunts or fishes illegally on the property of another

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with R.

    Show the word

    POACHER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    AUTOPSY

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: filled with or marked by tears

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with L.

    Show the word

    TEARFUL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: in a royal manner

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    ROYALLY

What is the answer to Deluxe #202?

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: PLASTER, ACTUARY, HOPEFUL, ROYALTY

Down: POACHER, AUTOPSY, TEARFUL, ROYALLY

How do you solve #202 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 8 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

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

What do the words in #202 mean?

PLASTER
noun: a mixture of lime or gypsum with sand and water
ACTUARY
noun: someone versed in the collection and interpretation of numerical data (especially someone who uses statistics to calculate insurance premiums)
HOPEFUL
adjective: having or manifesting hope
ROYALTY
noun: payment to the holder of a patent or copyright or resource for the right to use their property
POACHER
noun: someone who hunts or fishes illegally on the property of another
AUTOPSY
noun: an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease
TEARFUL
adjective: filled with or marked by tears
ROYALLY
adverb: in a royal manner

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Friday, September 18, 2026.