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Waffle Daily

Daily Waffle #20 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Friday, March 20, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #20

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

Want one more try first? Play #20.

Hints for each word in #20

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: the 3rd planet from the sun

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with H.

    Show the word

    EARTH

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with N.

    Show the word

    TALON

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with R.

    Show the word

    RIDER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: someone who consumes food for nourishment

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with R.

    Show the word

    EATER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: aroused to impatience or anger

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with D.

    Show the word

    RILED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with H and ends with R.

    Show the word

    HONOR

What is the answer to Waffle #20?

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: EARTH, TALON, RIDER

Down: EATER, RILED, HONOR

How do you solve #20 in 10 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 6 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 1, column 3. This puts E and R in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 3. This puts T and L in place.
  3. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 4, column 3. This puts A and E in place.
  4. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 4. This puts A and E in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 4. This puts A in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 4, column 1. This puts E in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 4. This puts O in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 5, column 3. This puts H and D in place.
  9. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 5. This puts O in place.
  10. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts N and R in place.

What do the words in #20 mean?

EARTH
noun: the 3rd planet from the sun
TALON
noun: a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey
RIDER
noun: a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
EATER
noun: someone who consumes food for nourishment
RILED
adjective: aroused to impatience or anger
HONOR
noun: a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Friday, March 20, 2026.