Daily Waffle #76 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Friday, May 15, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

DAWNSDEUTEEAPAAETWTEJ

The starting grid for #76

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

Want one more try first? Play #76.

Hints for each word in #76

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
adjective: of animals having jaws of a specified type
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with J and ends with D.
Show the word
JAWED
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: disturb the balance or stability of
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with U and ends with T.
Show the word
UPSET
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: thick woolen fabric used for clothing
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with D.
Show the word
TWEED
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a journey taken for pleasure
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with J and ends with T.
Show the word
JAUNT
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with W and ends with E.
Show the word
WASTE
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: marked by features of the immediate and usually discounted past
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with D.
Show the word
DATED

What is the answer to Waffle #76?

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

JAWEDAAAUPSETNTETWEED

Across: JAWED, UPSET, TWEED

Down: JAUNT, WASTE, DATED

How do you solve #76 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 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts J and D in place.
Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 4. This puts A and E in place.
Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 3. This puts E in place.
Swap row 1, column 5 with row 2, column 1. This puts D in place.
Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 3. This puts S in place.
Swap row 2, column 1 with row 4, column 1. This puts A and N in place.
Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 1. This puts U in place.
Swap row 2, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts A and T in place.
Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 5. This puts P in place.
Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 3. This puts T and E in place.

What do the words in #76 mean?

JAWED: adjective: of animals having jaws of a specified type
UPSET: verb: disturb the balance or stability of
TWEED: noun: thick woolen fabric used for clothing
JAUNT: noun: a journey taken for pleasure
WASTE: noun: any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
DATED: adjective: marked by features of the immediate and usually discounted past

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Friday, May 15, 2026.