Daily Waffle #168 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Saturday, August 15, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #168
6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.
Want one more try first? Play #168.
Hints for each word in #168
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
adjective: comical in an odd or whimsical manner
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with L.
Show the word
DROLL
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a squeeze with the fingers
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with K.
Show the word
TWEAK
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: treated with dislike or contempt
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with H and ends with D.
Show the word
HATED
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a long narrow excavation in the earth
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with H.
Show the word
DITCH
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: open and observable
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with O and ends with T.
Show the word
OVERT
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: found pleasant or attractive
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with L and ends with D.
Show the word
LIKED
What is the answer to Waffle #168?
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: DROLL, TWEAK, HATED
Down: DITCH, OVERT, LIKED
How do you solve #168 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 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts D and A in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 5. This puts R and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 3. This puts L and V in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 5, column 1. This puts L and H in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 5. This puts W and K in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 4. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 4, column 1. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts C and D in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 3, column 4. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts E and T in place.
What do the words in #168 mean?
- DROLL
- adjective: comical in an odd or whimsical manner
- TWEAK
- noun: a squeeze with the fingers
- HATED
- adjective: treated with dislike or contempt
- DITCH
- noun: a long narrow excavation in the earth
- OVERT
- adjective: open and observable
- LIKED
- adjective: found pleasant or attractive
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Saturday, August 15, 2026.