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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #85 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Sunday, May 24, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #85

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

Want one more try first? Play #85.

Hints for each word in #85

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: take exception to

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with E.

    Show the word

    DISPUTE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: (Greek mythology) the goddess of healing

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with A.

    Show the word

    PANACEA

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: standing above others in quality or position

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with T.

    Show the word

    EMINENT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: with sternness

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    STERNLY

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: lower someone's spirits

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with S.

    Show the word

    DEPRESS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the first light of day

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with E.

    Show the word

    SUNRISE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with U and ends with N.

    Show the word

    UNCLEAN

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: indicating exactness or preciseness

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    EXACTLY

What is the answer to Deluxe #85?

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: DISPUTE, PANACEA, EMINENT, STERNLY

Down: DEPRESS, SUNRISE, UNCLEAN, EXACTLY

How do you solve #85 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 11 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

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

What do the words in #85 mean?

DISPUTE
verb: take exception to
PANACEA
noun: (Greek mythology) the goddess of healing
EMINENT
adjective: standing above others in quality or position
STERNLY
adverb: with sternness
DEPRESS
verb: lower someone's spirits
SUNRISE
noun: the first light of day
UNCLEAN
adjective: soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
EXACTLY
adverb: indicating exactness or preciseness

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Sunday, May 24, 2026.