Deluxe Waffle #65 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Monday, May 4, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #65
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #65.
Hints for each word in #65
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.
Word 1: the first row (row 1)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: of or relating to a coast
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with L.
Show the word
COASTAL
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with T.
Show the word
ANCIENT
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adverb: to the degree or extent that
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with R.
Show the word
INSOFAR
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: place in proper rank
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with M and ends with L.
Show the word
MARSHAL
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the part of the skull that encloses the brain
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with M.
Show the word
CRANIUM
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: someone who imputes guilt or blame
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with R.
Show the word
ACCUSER
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: coming next after the eleventh and just before the thirteenth in position
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with H.
Show the word
TWELFTH
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a pass to a receiver upfield from the passer
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with L and ends with L.
Show the word
LATERAL
What is the answer to Deluxe #65?
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: COASTAL, ANCIENT, INSOFAR, MARSHAL
Down: CRANIUM, ACCUSER, TWELFTH, LATERAL
How do you solve #65 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
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 2, column 3. This puts O and C in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 4, column 1. This puts R and N in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 7, column 7. This puts A and L in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 7, column 1. This puts C and M in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 2. This puts E and N in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 3. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 5. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts C and F in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 5. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 7, column 6. This puts W and A in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 1. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 7. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 6, column 5. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 7, column 5. This puts N and H in place.
- Swap row 3, column 7 with row 4, column 3. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 4, column 3 with row 4, column 7. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 7, column 4. This puts E and S in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 6, column 3. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 6, column 3 with row 6, column 7. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 6, column 7 with row 7, column 3. This puts A and R in place.
What do the words in #65 mean?
- COASTAL
- adjective: of or relating to a coast
- ANCIENT
- adjective: belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire
- INSOFAR
- adverb: to the degree or extent that
- MARSHAL
- verb: place in proper rank
- CRANIUM
- noun: the part of the skull that encloses the brain
- ACCUSER
- noun: someone who imputes guilt or blame
- TWELFTH
- adjective: coming next after the eleventh and just before the thirteenth in position
- LATERAL
- noun: a pass to a receiver upfield from the passer
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Monday, May 4, 2026.