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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #42 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Saturday, April 11, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #42

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

Want one more try first? Play #42.

Hints for each word in #42

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: remorse for your past conduct

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with E.

    Show the word

    PENANCE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: support consisting of metal loops into which rider's feet go

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with P.

    Show the word

    STIRRUP

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: give a promotion to or assign to a higher position

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with E.

    Show the word

    ELEVATE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a feeling of fear of embarrassment

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with S.

    Show the word

    SHYNESS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with S.

    Show the word

    POSSESS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: lack of sophistication or worldliness

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with N and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    NAIVETY

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: provide commentary for a film, for example

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with N and ends with E.

    Show the word

    NARRATE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a woman emperor or the wife of an emperor

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with S.

    Show the word

    EMPRESS

What is the answer to Deluxe #42?

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: PENANCE, STIRRUP, ELEVATE, SHYNESS

Down: POSSESS, NAIVETY, NARRATE, EMPRESS

How do you solve #42 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 3, column 5. This puts A and R in place.
  2. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 1. This puts O and S in place.
  3. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 6, column 1. This puts A and S in place.
  4. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 5, column 6. This puts M and T in place.
  5. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts T and E in place.
  6. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 7. This puts R and E in place.
  7. Swap row 5, column 5 with row 7, column 7. This puts A and S in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 3. This puts N in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 2, column 3. This puts A in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 4, column 5. This puts P and R in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 6. This puts E in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 3. This puts N in place.
  13. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 7, column 2. This puts H in place.
  14. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 7, column 3. This puts C and Y in place.
  15. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 4, column 1. This puts E in place.
  16. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 7, column 4. This puts S and N in place.
  17. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 3, column 6. This puts U in place.
  18. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 4, column 3. This puts I and V in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 5. This puts V in place.
  20. Swap row 7, column 5 with row 7, column 6. This puts E and S in place.

What do the words in #42 mean?

PENANCE
noun: remorse for your past conduct
STIRRUP
noun: support consisting of metal loops into which rider's feet go
ELEVATE
verb: give a promotion to or assign to a higher position
SHYNESS
noun: a feeling of fear of embarrassment
POSSESS
verb: have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
NAIVETY
noun: lack of sophistication or worldliness
NARRATE
verb: provide commentary for a film, for example
EMPRESS
noun: a woman emperor or the wife of an emperor

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Saturday, April 11, 2026.