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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #54 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Thursday, April 23, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #54

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

Want one more try first? Play #54.

Hints for each word in #54

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: a sheet of material (metal, plastic, cardboard, waxed paper, silk, etc.) that has been perforated with a pattern (printing or a design)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with L.

    Show the word

    STENCIL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the process of putting forth roots and beginning to grow

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with G.

    Show the word

    ROOTING

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with T.

    Show the word

    TRIPLET

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: having an illustrious reputation

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with H and ends with D.

    Show the word

    HONORED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: cause friction

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with H.

    Show the word

    SCRATCH

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with N.

    Show the word

    EROSION

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: excitation that makes your hair stand up or that chills your bones

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with R.

    Show the word

    CHILLER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: set afire or burning

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with L and ends with D.

    Show the word

    LIGHTED

What is the answer to Deluxe #54?

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: STENCIL, ROOTING, TRIPLET, HONORED

Down: SCRATCH, EROSION, CHILLER, LIGHTED

How do you solve #54 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 10 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

Show every swap
  1. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts E and I in place.
  2. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 7, column 6. This puts T and E in place.
  3. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 6, column 3. This puts T and O in place.
  4. Swap row 5, column 5 with row 7, column 5. This puts L and R in place.
  5. Swap row 7, column 4 with row 7, column 7. This puts O and D in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 6. This puts S in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 2, column 1. This puts I and C in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 7. This puts N in place.
  9. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 5, column 4. This puts I and P in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 3, column 2. This puts O in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 2, column 3. This puts R in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 4, column 1. This puts L and A in place.
  13. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 5. This puts R in place.
  14. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 4, column 5. This puts O in place.
  15. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 6. This puts E in place.
  16. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts S in place.
  17. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts I and H in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 5 with row 4, column 7. This puts L in place.
  19. Swap row 4, column 7 with row 5, column 7. This puts H in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 7 with row 7, column 3. This puts T and N in place.

What do the words in #54 mean?

STENCIL
noun: a sheet of material (metal, plastic, cardboard, waxed paper, silk, etc.) that has been perforated with a pattern (printing or a design)
ROOTING
noun: the process of putting forth roots and beginning to grow
TRIPLET
noun: the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
HONORED
adjective: having an illustrious reputation
SCRATCH
verb: cause friction
EROSION
noun: (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
CHILLER
noun: excitation that makes your hair stand up or that chills your bones
LIGHTED
adjective: set afire or burning

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, April 23, 2026.