Daily Waffle #117 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Thursday, June 25, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #117
6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.
Want one more try first? Play #117.
Hints for each word in #117
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: personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with F.
Show the word
STAFF
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with E.
Show the word
EVOKE
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: of or characteristic of rats
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with Y.
Show the word
RATTY
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: complete and without restriction or qualification
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with R.
Show the word
SHEER
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
adverb: at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with T.
Show the word
ALOFT
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: characterized by intense emotion
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with F and ends with Y.
Show the word
FIERY
What is the answer to Waffle #117?
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
Across: STAFF, EVOKE, RATTY
Down: SHEER, ALOFT, FIERY
How do you solve #117 in 10 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 7 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 2. This puts A and V in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 1. This puts F and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 5, column 2. This puts F and A in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 4. This puts L and K in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 5, column 3. This puts I and T in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 2. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 1. This puts T and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts F in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 5. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts E and Y in place.
What do the words in #117 mean?
- STAFF
- noun: personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
- EVOKE
- verb: call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
- RATTY
- adjective: of or characteristic of rats
- SHEER
- adjective: complete and without restriction or qualification
- ALOFT
- adverb: at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
- FIERY
- adjective: characterized by intense emotion
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, June 25, 2026.