Deluxe Waffle #25 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Wednesday, March 25, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #25
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #25.
Hints for each word in #25
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: blind consisting of a leather eyepatch sewn to the side of the halter that prevents a horse from seeing something on either side
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with R.
Show the word
BLINDER
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: structures collectively in which people are housed
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with L and ends with G.
Show the word
LODGING
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a farewell remark
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with E.
Show the word
GOODBYE
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: symptom consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with S.
Show the word
ABSCESS
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the capital of Emilia-Romagna
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with A.
Show the word
BOLOGNA
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
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 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with E.
Show the word
DRIBBLE
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with S.
Show the word
REGRESS
What is the answer to Deluxe #25?
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: BLINDER, LODGING, GOODBYE, ABSCESS
Down: BOLOGNA, INDOORS, DRIBBLE, REGRESS
How do you solve #25 in 20 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 10 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 2, column 3. This puts E and N in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 4, column 5. This puts G and B in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 4. This puts N and C in place.
- Swap row 6, column 3 with row 6, column 5. This puts R and L in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 3. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 7. This puts B and R in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 3. This puts D in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 6. This puts N and Y in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 3, column 1. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 5, column 2. This puts E and O in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 5. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 1. This puts G in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 7, column 2. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 5, column 5 with row 6, column 1. This puts B and N in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 5, column 4. This puts D in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 7, column 2. This puts B in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 7, column 3. This puts R and S in place.
- Swap row 5, column 3 with row 5, column 7. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 5, column 3 with row 7, column 1. This puts O and A in place.
What do the words in #25 mean?
- BLINDER
- noun: blind consisting of a leather eyepatch sewn to the side of the halter that prevents a horse from seeing something on either side
- LODGING
- noun: structures collectively in which people are housed
- GOODBYE
- noun: a farewell remark
- ABSCESS
- noun: symptom consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue
- BOLOGNA
- noun: the capital of Emilia-Romagna
- INDOORS
- adverb: within a building
- DRIBBLE
- verb: run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
- REGRESS
- noun: the reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, March 25, 2026.