Daily Waffle #26 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Thursday, March 26, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

AREKYIMASPLPPOLLLEAZI

The starting grid for #26

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

Want one more try first? Play #26.

Hints for each word in #26

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
verb: put into service
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with Y.
Show the word
APPLY
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a momentary flash of light
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with K.
Show the word
SPARK
Word 3: the bottom row (row 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
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with E.
Show the word
AISLE
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a public square with room for pedestrians
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with A.
Show the word
PLAZA
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with Y and ends with L.
Show the word
YOKEL

What is the answer to Waffle #26?

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

APPLYILOSPARKLZEEMAIL

Across: APPLY, SPARK, EMAIL

Down: AISLE, PLAZA, YOKEL

How do you solve #26 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

Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 4. This puts P and R in place.
Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 5. This puts P in place.
Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 5. This puts K in place.
Swap row 1, column 4 with row 4, column 5. This puts L and E in place.
Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts L in place.
Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts E and M in place.
Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 3. This puts A in place.
Swap row 2, column 5 with row 4, column 1. This puts O and L in place.
Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 4. This puts Z in place.
Swap row 5, column 4 with row 5, column 5. This puts I and L in place.

What do the words in #26 mean?

APPLY: verb: put into service
SPARK: noun: a momentary flash of light
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
AISLE: noun: a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
PLAZA: noun: a public square with room for pedestrians
YOKEL: noun: a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, March 26, 2026.