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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #53 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Wednesday, April 22, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #53

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

Want one more try first? Play #53.

Hints for each word in #53

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

    adjective: closed to traffic

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with B and ends with D.

    Show the word

    BLOCKED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: watch and direct

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with E.

    Show the word

    OVERSEE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with S.

    Show the word

    STRAITS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: someone who controls resources and expenditures

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with M and ends with R.

    Show the word

    MANAGER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: produce or yield flowers

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with B and ends with M.

    Show the word

    BLOSSOM

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: invade in great numbers

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with N.

    Show the word

    OVERRUN

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with K and ends with G.

    Show the word

    KISSING

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: furniture with drawers for keeping clothes

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with R.

    Show the word

    DRESSER

What is the answer to Deluxe #53?

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: BLOCKED, OVERSEE, STRAITS, MANAGER

Down: BLOSSOM, OVERRUN, KISSING, DRESSER

How do you solve #53 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 1, column 7. This puts B and D in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 5. This puts K and S in place.
  3. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 6, column 5. This puts E and N in place.
  4. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 7, column 6. This puts S and E in place.
  5. Swap row 4, column 7 with row 7, column 2. This puts S and A in place.
  6. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 6, column 1. This puts S and O in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 2, column 7. This puts R in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 6, column 3. This puts L and U in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 4. This puts R in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 7, column 1. This puts C and M in place.
  11. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 2. This puts L in place.
  12. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts V and R in place.
  13. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 2, column 5. This puts I in place.
  14. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 7, column 4. This puts A in place.
  15. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 7, column 5. This puts V and G in place.
  16. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts T in place.
  17. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 7, column 3. This puts O and N in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts S in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 5, column 5. This puts I in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 7, column 7. This puts T and R in place.

What do the words in #53 mean?

BLOCKED
adjective: closed to traffic
OVERSEE
verb: watch and direct
STRAITS
noun: a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs
MANAGER
noun: someone who controls resources and expenditures
BLOSSOM
verb: produce or yield flowers
OVERRUN
verb: invade in great numbers
KISSING
noun: affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
DRESSER
noun: furniture with drawers for keeping clothes

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, April 22, 2026.