Daily Waffle #102 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Wednesday, June 10, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

AEIDHADTEGIALSNTERSCE

The starting grid for #102

6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.

Want one more try first? Play #102.

Hints for each word in #102

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 top row (row 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a former administrative district of England
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with E.
Show the word
SHIRE
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a name that has been assumed temporarily
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with S.
Show the word
ALIAS
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: having a specified kind of border or edge
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with D.
Show the word
EDGED
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with E.
Show the word
STATE
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the formation of frost or ice on a surface
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with G.
Show the word
ICING
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: (of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with D.
Show the word
EASED

What is the answer to Waffle #102?

The answer is 6 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

SHIRETCAALIASTNEEDGED

Across: SHIRE, ALIAS, EDGED

Down: STATE, ICING, EASED

How do you solve #102 in 10 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 6 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 1, column 5. This puts H and E in place.
Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 2. This puts R and D in place.
Swap row 2, column 1 with row 2, column 5. This puts T and A in place.
Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 1. This puts A in place.
Swap row 1, column 1 with row 4, column 1. This puts S in place.
Swap row 4, column 1 with row 4, column 5. This puts T and E in place.
Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 4. This puts C in place.
Swap row 5, column 4 with row 5, column 5. This puts E and D in place.
Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 5. This puts L in place.
Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 3. This puts S and G in place.

What do the words in #102 mean?

SHIRE: noun: a former administrative district of England
ALIAS: noun: a name that has been assumed temporarily
EDGED: adjective: having a specified kind of border or edge
STATE: noun: the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
ICING: noun: the formation of frost or ice on a surface
EASED: adjective: (of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, June 10, 2026.