Deluxe Waffle #28 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Saturday, March 28, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #28
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #28.
Hints for each word in #28
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
adjective: no longer in use
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with D.
Show the word
DISUSED
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: enthusiastic recognition (especially one accompanied by loud applause)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with O and ends with N.
Show the word
OVATION
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: cooking utensil consisting of a flat heated surface (as on top of a stove) on which food is cooked
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with E.
Show the word
GRIDDLE
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adverb: (formal) in or into that thing or place
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with N.
Show the word
THEREIN
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a shortage of rainfall
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with T.
Show the word
DROUGHT
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the shore of a sea or ocean regarded as a resort
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with E.
Show the word
SEASIDE
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: deprive of by deceit
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with E.
Show the word
SWINDLE
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with N.
Show the word
DUNGEON
What is the answer to Deluxe #28?
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: DISUSED, OVATION, GRIDDLE, THEREIN
Down: DROUGHT, SEASIDE, SWINDLE, DUNGEON
How do you solve #28 in 20 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 11 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 5, column 3. This puts D and I in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 6, column 1. This puts R and H in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 7, column 3. This puts N and E in place.
- Swap row 5, column 6 with row 7, column 6. This puts L and I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 1, column 3. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 2, column 3. This puts S and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 4, column 7. This puts G in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 6, column 3. This puts U and D in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 2, column 7. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 2, column 7. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 3, column 5. This puts E and I in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 1. This puts W in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 2. This puts O and V in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts G in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 6, column 5. This puts A and L in place.
- Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 7. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 5, column 7 with row 6, column 7. This puts E and O in place.
- Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 5. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 1. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 7. This puts D and N in place.
What do the words in #28 mean?
- DISUSED
- adjective: no longer in use
- OVATION
- noun: enthusiastic recognition (especially one accompanied by loud applause)
- GRIDDLE
- noun: cooking utensil consisting of a flat heated surface (as on top of a stove) on which food is cooked
- THEREIN
- adverb: (formal) in or into that thing or place
- DROUGHT
- noun: a shortage of rainfall
- SEASIDE
- noun: the shore of a sea or ocean regarded as a resort
- SWINDLE
- verb: deprive of by deceit
- DUNGEON
- noun: the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Saturday, March 28, 2026.