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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #86 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Monday, May 25, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #86

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

Want one more try first? Play #86.

Hints for each word in #86

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 formal and solemn declaration of objection

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with T.

    Show the word

    PROTEST

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: form the substance of

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with E.

    Show the word

    COMPOSE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: offering fun and gaiety

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with E.

    Show the word

    FESTIVE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a sac or cavity containing fluid especially lymph or cerebrospinal fluid

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with N.

    Show the word

    CISTERN

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the largest ocean in the world

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with C.

    Show the word

    PACIFIC

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: (biology, chemistry) diffusion of molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration until the concentration on both sides is equal

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with S.

    Show the word

    OSMOSIS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: characterized by emotion

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with E.

    Show the word

    EMOTIVE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: on that

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with N.

    Show the word

    THEREON

What is the answer to Deluxe #86?

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: PROTEST, COMPOSE, FESTIVE, CISTERN

Down: PACIFIC, OSMOSIS, EMOTIVE, THEREON

How do you solve #86 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 8 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

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

What do the words in #86 mean?

PROTEST
noun: a formal and solemn declaration of objection
COMPOSE
verb: form the substance of
FESTIVE
adjective: offering fun and gaiety
CISTERN
noun: a sac or cavity containing fluid especially lymph or cerebrospinal fluid
PACIFIC
noun: the largest ocean in the world
OSMOSIS
noun: (biology, chemistry) diffusion of molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration until the concentration on both sides is equal
EMOTIVE
adjective: characterized by emotion
THEREON
adverb: on that

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Monday, May 25, 2026.