Daily Waffle #162 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Sunday, August 9, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

SLREIOLQATHNAMAKEUERU

The starting grid for #162

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

Want one more try first? Play #162.

Hints for each word in #162

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: shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with Q and ends with E.
Show the word
QUAKE
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a particular environment or walk of life
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with A.
Show the word
ARENA
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with H and ends with L.
Show the word
HOTEL
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: put down by force or intimidation
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with Q and ends with H.
Show the word
QUASH
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with T.
Show the word
ALERT
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: (computer science) a system of world-wide electronic communication in which a computer user can compose a message at one terminal that can be regenerated at the recipient's terminal when the recipient logs in
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with L.
Show the word
EMAIL

What is the answer to Waffle #162?

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

QUAKEULMARENASRIHOTEL

Across: QUAKE, ARENA, HOTEL

Down: QUASH, ALERT, EMAIL

How do you solve #162 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 2 with row 5, column 5. This puts U and L in place.
Swap row 1, column 3 with row 4, column 3. This puts A and R in place.
Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts U and O in place.
Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts E and H in place.
Swap row 1, column 1 with row 2, column 5. This puts Q in place.
Swap row 2, column 5 with row 4, column 1. This puts M and S in place.
Swap row 1, column 4 with row 1, column 5. This puts E in place.
Swap row 1, column 4 with row 4, column 5. This puts K and I in place.
Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts T in place.
Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 4. This puts R and E in place.

What do the words in #162 mean?

QUAKE: noun: shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
ARENA: noun: a particular environment or walk of life
HOTEL: noun: a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
QUASH: verb: put down by force or intimidation
ALERT: verb: warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness
EMAIL: noun: (computer science) a system of world-wide electronic communication in which a computer user can compose a message at one terminal that can be regenerated at the recipient's terminal when the recipient logs in

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Sunday, August 9, 2026.