Daily Waffle #52 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Tuesday, April 21, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

NHACEYDSATAGLRNSYEIOO

The starting grid for #52

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

Want one more try first? Play #52.

Hints for each word in #52

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
adverb: (used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with H and ends with E.
Show the word
HENCE
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: (Greek mythology) a Titan who was forced by Zeus to bear the sky on his shoulders
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with S.
Show the word
ATLAS
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with Y.
Show the word
DINGY
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a secret store of valuables or money
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with H and ends with D.
Show the word
HOARD
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a thermoplastic polyamide
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with N and ends with N.
Show the word
NYLON
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: an analytic or interpretive literary composition
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with Y.
Show the word
ESSAY

What is the answer to Waffle #52?

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

HENCEOYSATLASROADINGY

Across: HENCE, ATLAS, DINGY

Down: HOARD, NYLON, ESSAY

How do you solve #52 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 2, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts O and Y in place.
Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts Y and D in place.
Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 2. This puts H in place.
Swap row 1, column 2 with row 5, column 2. This puts E in place.
Swap row 5, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts I and N in place.
Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 4. This puts A in place.
Swap row 1, column 3 with row 4, column 3. This puts N in place.
Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 4. This puts O and G in place.
Swap row 3, column 3 with row 3, column 5. This puts L in place.
Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 5. This puts S and A in place.

What do the words in #52 mean?

HENCE: adverb: (used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
ATLAS: noun: (Greek mythology) a Titan who was forced by Zeus to bear the sky on his shoulders
DINGY: adjective: thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
HOARD: noun: a secret store of valuables or money
NYLON: noun: a thermoplastic polyamide
ESSAY: noun: an analytic or interpretive literary composition

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, April 21, 2026.