Deluxe Waffle #82 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Thursday, May 21, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #82
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #82.
Hints for each word in #82
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
verb: have a reunion
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with E.
Show the word
REUNITE
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a handheld collapsible source of shade
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with L.
Show the word
PARASOL
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with P.
Show the word
ENVELOP
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with E.
Show the word
SILENCE
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: put down by force or intimidation
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with S.
Show the word
REPRESS
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with U and ends with L.
Show the word
UNRAVEL
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: hormone secreted by the isles of Langerhans in the pancreas
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with N.
Show the word
INSULIN
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with E.
Show the word
ELLIPSE
What is the answer to Deluxe #82?
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: REUNITE, PARASOL, ENVELOP, SILENCE
Down: REPRESS, UNRAVEL, INSULIN, ELLIPSE
How do you solve #82 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
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 5. This puts R and I in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 5, column 3. This puts L and V in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 1. This puts A and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 6, column 3. This puts R and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 4. This puts A and E in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 6, column 5. This puts U and I in place.
- Swap row 5, column 7 with row 7, column 4. This puts P and E in place.
- Swap row 6, column 1 with row 7, column 6. This puts S and C in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 1. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 1, column 7 with row 2, column 3. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 2, column 5. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 7, column 2. This puts N and I in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 6. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 3. This puts N and A in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 7. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 6, column 7. This puts P and S in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 4, column 7. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 5, column 2. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 5, column 5. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 5, column 6. This puts I and O in place.
What do the words in #82 mean?
- REUNITE
- verb: have a reunion
- PARASOL
- noun: a handheld collapsible source of shade
- ENVELOP
- verb: enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
- SILENCE
- noun: the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
- REPRESS
- verb: put down by force or intimidation
- UNRAVEL
- verb: become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of
- INSULIN
- noun: hormone secreted by the isles of Langerhans in the pancreas
- ELLIPSE
- noun: a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, May 21, 2026.