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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #40 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Thursday, April 9, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #40

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

Want one more try first? Play #40.

Hints for each word in #40

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

    verb: run away

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with D.

    Show the word

    ABSCOND

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with L and ends with S.

    Show the word

    LAURELS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: something very ugly and offensive

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with E.

    Show the word

    EYESORE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a crime that undermines the offender's government

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with N.

    Show the word

    TREASON

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: an often persistent bodily disorder or disease

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with T.

    Show the word

    AILMENT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with E.

    Show the word

    SQUEEZE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: not easily borne

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with S.

    Show the word

    ONEROUS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: detect with the senses

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with N.

    Show the word

    DISCERN

What is the answer to Deluxe #40?

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: ABSCOND, LAURELS, EYESORE, TREASON

Down: AILMENT, SQUEEZE, ONEROUS, DISCERN

How do you solve #40 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
  1. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 4. This puts C and S in place.
  2. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts N and T in place.
  3. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 4, column 3. This puts I and E in place.
  4. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 3, column 5. This puts U and E in place.
  5. Swap row 4, column 7 with row 7, column 6. This puts C and O in place.
  6. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts E and R in place.
  7. Swap row 5, column 5 with row 7, column 3. This puts O and E in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 6, column 1. This puts N in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 6, column 7. This puts B and R in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 1, column 6. This puts S in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 3, column 1. This puts N and L in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 3, column 7. This puts D in place.
  13. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 2. This puts Q in place.
  14. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 6. This puts A in place.
  15. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 5. This puts L and S in place.
  16. Swap row 3, column 7 with row 4, column 1. This puts S in place.
  17. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 7. This puts M in place.
  18. Swap row 5, column 7 with row 7, column 2. This puts E and R in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts Y in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 3 with row 6, column 5. This puts E and U in place.

What do the words in #40 mean?

ABSCOND
verb: run away
LAURELS
noun: a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
EYESORE
noun: something very ugly and offensive
TREASON
noun: a crime that undermines the offender's government
AILMENT
noun: an often persistent bodily disorder or disease
SQUEEZE
verb: to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
ONEROUS
adjective: not easily borne
DISCERN
verb: detect with the senses

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, April 9, 2026.