Daily Waffle #203 answers and hints

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

GARRREETEUOPAWDELDIRY

The starting grid for #203

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

Want one more try first? Play #203.

Hints for each word in #203

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: an electronic device that generates a series of beeps when the person carrying it is being paged
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with R.
Show the word
PAGER
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: have and exercise
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with W and ends with D.
Show the word
WIELD
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: hear or try a court case anew
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with Y.
Show the word
RETRY
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: possession of controlling influence
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with R.
Show the word
POWER
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: relatively large in size or number or extent
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with T.
Show the word
GREAT
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with Y.
Show the word
RUDDY

What is the answer to Waffle #203?

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

PAGERORUWIELDEADRETRY

Across: PAGER, WIELD, RETRY

Down: POWER, GREAT, RUDDY

How do you solve #203 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 4 with row 2, column 3. This puts E and R in place.
Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 3. This puts O and E in place.
Swap row 3, column 1 with row 4, column 1. This puts W and E in place.
Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts D and A in place.
Swap row 4, column 5 with row 5, column 2. This puts D and E in place.
Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 3. This puts G in place.
Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 4. This puts P in place.
Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 1. This puts L and R in place.
Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 2. This puts U in place.
Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts I and T in place.

What do the words in #203 mean?

PAGER: noun: an electronic device that generates a series of beeps when the person carrying it is being paged
WIELD: verb: have and exercise
RETRY: verb: hear or try a court case anew
POWER: noun: possession of controlling influence
GREAT: adjective: relatively large in size or number or extent
RUDDY: adjective: inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life

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