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Waffle Daily

Daily Waffle #12 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Thursday, March 12, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #12

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

Want one more try first? Play #12.

Hints for each word in #12

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 top row (row 1)

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: force with the thumb

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with E.

    Show the word

    GOUGE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a long narrow natural elevation or striation

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with E.

    Show the word

    RIDGE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    EARLY

  4. Word 4: the left column (column 1)

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: overeat or eat immodestly

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with E.

    Show the word

    GORGE

  5. Word 5: the middle column (column 3)

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: located below or beneath something else

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with U and ends with R.

    Show the word

    UNDER

  6. Word 6: the right column (column 5)

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: (used of count nouns) each and all of the members of a group considered singly and without exception

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    EVERY

What is the answer to Waffle #12?

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: GOUGE, RIDGE, EARLY

Down: GORGE, UNDER, EVERY

How do you solve #12 in 10 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 5 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

Show every swap
  1. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts O and Y in place.
  2. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 4, column 5. This puts V and R in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 2. This puts O in place.
  4. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 5. This puts E in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 2. This puts G and I in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 2, column 3. This puts U in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 3. This puts G in place.
  8. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts D and E in place.
  9. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 1. This puts N in place.
  10. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts G and A in place.

What do the words in #12 mean?

GOUGE
verb: force with the thumb
RIDGE
noun: a long narrow natural elevation or striation
EARLY
adjective: at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
GORGE
verb: overeat or eat immodestly
UNDER
adjective: located below or beneath something else
EVERY
adjective: (used of count nouns) each and all of the members of a group considered singly and without exception

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, March 12, 2026.