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Waffle Daily

Daily Waffle #172 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Wednesday, August 19, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #172

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

Want one more try first? Play #172.

Hints for each word in #172

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

    noun: a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with W and ends with S.

    Show the word

    WAGES

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with E.

    Show the word

    ADAGE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with H and ends with E.

    Show the word

    HEDGE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: intense anger (usually on an epic scale)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with W and ends with H.

    Show the word

    WRATH

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a person who keeps watch over something or someone

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with D.

    Show the word

    GUARD

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: leather with a napped surface

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with E.

    Show the word

    SUEDE

What is the answer to Waffle #172?

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: WAGES, ADAGE, HEDGE

Down: WRATH, GUARD, SUEDE

How do you solve #172 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 1, column 1 with row 2, column 3. This puts U in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 5, column 3. This puts W and D in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 4, column 1. This puts T in place.
  4. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts G and H in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 1. This puts R in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 4. This puts E and G in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 1. This puts S in place.
  8. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 4, column 5. This puts A and D in place.
  9. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 4. This puts D in place.
  10. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 4, column 3. This puts G and R in place.

What do the words in #172 mean?

WAGES
noun: a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
ADAGE
noun: a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
HEDGE
noun: a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
WRATH
noun: intense anger (usually on an epic scale)
GUARD
noun: a person who keeps watch over something or someone
SUEDE
noun: leather with a napped surface

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, August 19, 2026.