Skip to content
Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #48 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Friday, April 17, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #48

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

Want one more try first? Play #48.

Hints for each word in #48

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: prevent from being included or considered or accepted

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with E.

    Show the word

    EXCLUDE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: plant bearing large mild thick-walled usually bell-shaped fruits

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with A.

    Show the word

    PAPRIKA

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a sheltered port where ships can take on or discharge cargo

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with T.

    Show the word

    SEAPORT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: characterized by action or forcefulness or force of personality

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with C.

    Show the word

    DYNAMIC

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: with no protection or shield

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with D.

    Show the word

    EXPOSED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with N.

    Show the word

    CAPTAIN

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: always the same

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with U and ends with M.

    Show the word

    UNIFORM

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with C.

    Show the word

    ELASTIC

What is the answer to Deluxe #48?

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: EXCLUDE, PAPRIKA, SEAPORT, DYNAMIC

Down: EXPOSED, CAPTAIN, UNIFORM, ELASTIC

How do you solve #48 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 1 with row 6, column 5. This puts E and R in place.
  2. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 7, column 6. This puts A and I in place.
  3. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 4, column 7. This puts P and S in place.
  4. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 7, column 1. This puts R and D in place.
  5. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 2. This puts K and Y in place.
  6. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 5, column 5. This puts E and O in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 1, column 4. This puts X in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 4, column 3. This puts L and T in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 1, column 6. This puts C in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 7, column 3. This puts D and N in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 6, column 1. This puts E in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 6, column 7. This puts U and I in place.
  13. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 5, column 1. This puts S in place.
  14. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 5, column 4. This puts E in place.
  15. Swap row 5, column 4 with row 5, column 6. This puts P and R in place.
  16. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 5. This puts I in place.
  17. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 2, column 7. This puts L in place.
  18. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 7, column 5. This puts X and M in place.
  19. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 1. This puts P in place.
  20. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 5. This puts A and F in place.

What do the words in #48 mean?

EXCLUDE
verb: prevent from being included or considered or accepted
PAPRIKA
noun: plant bearing large mild thick-walled usually bell-shaped fruits
SEAPORT
noun: a sheltered port where ships can take on or discharge cargo
DYNAMIC
adjective: characterized by action or forcefulness or force of personality
EXPOSED
adjective: with no protection or shield
CAPTAIN
noun: an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
UNIFORM
adjective: always the same
ELASTIC
adjective: capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Friday, April 17, 2026.