Deluxe Waffle #12 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Thursday, March 12, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #12
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #12.
Hints for each word in #12
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 first row (row 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: engaging in the business of keeping money for savings and checking accounts or for exchange or for issuing loans and credit etc.
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with G.
Show the word
BANKING
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: filled with something
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with D.
Show the word
STUFFED
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a hose that carries air under pressure
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with E.
Show the word
AIRLINE
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: reduced in strength or concentration or quality or purity
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with D.
Show the word
DILUTED
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: insulting terms of address for people who are stupid or irritating or ridiculous
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with D.
Show the word
BASTARD
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: having no personal preference
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with N and ends with L.
Show the word
NEUTRAL
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: impose something unpleasant
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with T.
Show the word
INFLICT
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with D.
Show the word
GODSEND
What is the answer to Deluxe #12?
The answer is 8 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: BANKING, STUFFED, AIRLINE, DILUTED
Down: BASTARD, NEUTRAL, INFLICT, GODSEND
How do you solve #12 in 20 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 8 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 3, column 3. This puts K and U in place.
- Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 6. This puts T and N in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 1, column 3. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 5. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 2, column 7. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 6, column 5. This puts I and C in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 4, column 5. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 5, column 2. This puts L and I in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 6. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 6, column 7. This puts E and N in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 7. This puts D in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 6, column 1. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 4. This puts F in place.
- Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 2. This puts L and I in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 4, column 7. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 6, column 1. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 5. This puts E and T in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 1. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts T and I in place.
What do the words in #12 mean?
- BANKING
- noun: engaging in the business of keeping money for savings and checking accounts or for exchange or for issuing loans and credit etc.
- STUFFED
- adjective: filled with something
- AIRLINE
- noun: a hose that carries air under pressure
- DILUTED
- adjective: reduced in strength or concentration or quality or purity
- BASTARD
- noun: insulting terms of address for people who are stupid or irritating or ridiculous
- NEUTRAL
- adjective: having no personal preference
- INFLICT
- verb: impose something unpleasant
- GODSEND
- noun: a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, March 12, 2026.