Daily Waffle #31 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Tuesday, March 31, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #31
6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.
Want one more try first? Play #31.
Hints for each word in #31
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: locate and correct errors in a computer program code
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with G.
Show the word
DEBUG
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: an artful or simulated semblance
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with E.
Show the word
GUISE
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a bottomless gulf or pit
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with S.
Show the word
ABYSS
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with A.
Show the word
DOGMA
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: any very large body of (salt) water
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with Y.
Show the word
BRINY
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: expect, believe, or suppose
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with S.
Show the word
GUESS
What is the answer to Waffle #31?
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: DEBUG, GUISE, ABYSS
Down: DOGMA, BRINY, GUESS
How do you solve #31 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 2 with row 2, column 1. This puts E and O in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 2, column 5. This puts B and U in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 4. This puts U and S in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 5. This puts R and S in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 4, column 3. This puts G and N in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 4, column 5. This puts I and S in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 4. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 4, column 1. This puts M in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 5. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 2. This puts U and B in place.
What do the words in #31 mean?
- DEBUG
- verb: locate and correct errors in a computer program code
- GUISE
- noun: an artful or simulated semblance
- ABYSS
- noun: a bottomless gulf or pit
- DOGMA
- noun: a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof
- BRINY
- noun: any very large body of (salt) water
- GUESS
- verb: expect, believe, or suppose
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, March 31, 2026.