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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #145 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Thursday, July 23, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #145

8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.

Want one more try first? Play #145.

Hints for each word in #145

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.

  1. Word 1: the first row (row 1)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the radioactive particles that settle to the ground after a nuclear explosion

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with T.

    Show the word

    FALLOUT

  2. Word 2: the second row (row 3)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a conceited and self-centered person

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with T.

    Show the word

    EGOTIST

  3. Word 3: the third row (row 5)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a fee paid for instruction (especially for higher education)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with N.

    Show the word

    TUITION

  4. Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with S.

    Show the word

    DIGRESS

  5. Word 5: the first column (column 1)

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: having frets

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with D.

    Show the word

    FRETTED

  6. Word 6: the second column (column 3)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: (computer science) executing the same set of instructions a given number of times or until a specified result is obtained

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with L and ends with G.

    Show the word

    LOOPING

  7. Word 7: the third column (column 5)

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: enter into a combination with oxygen or become converted into an oxide

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with E.

    Show the word

    OXIDIZE

  8. Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with S.

    Show the word

    TETANUS

What is the answer to Deluxe #145?

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: FALLOUT, EGOTIST, TUITION, DIGRESS

Down: FRETTED, LOOPING, OXIDIZE, TETANUS

How do you solve #145 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 10 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

Show every swap
  1. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 7, column 3. This puts U and G in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 3, column 6. This puts T and S in place.
  3. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 2, column 3. This puts R and O in place.
  4. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts E and O in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 2, column 5. This puts X in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 5, column 4. This puts F in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts I in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 6, column 7. This puts A and U in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 3. This puts O in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 5, column 2. This puts L in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 5. This puts I in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 7. This puts L and T in place.
  13. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 4, column 5. This puts O in place.
  14. Swap row 4, column 5 with row 7, column 2. This puts D and I in place.
  15. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 4, column 3. This puts E in place.
  16. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 6, column 5. This puts P and Z in place.
  17. Swap row 4, column 7 with row 5, column 4. This puts T in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 7 with row 7, column 7. This puts A and S in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 7, column 4. This puts R in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 7, column 5. This puts U and E in place.

What do the words in #145 mean?

FALLOUT
noun: the radioactive particles that settle to the ground after a nuclear explosion
EGOTIST
noun: a conceited and self-centered person
TUITION
noun: a fee paid for instruction (especially for higher education)
DIGRESS
verb: lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking
FRETTED
adjective: having frets
LOOPING
noun: (computer science) executing the same set of instructions a given number of times or until a specified result is obtained
OXIDIZE
verb: enter into a combination with oxygen or become converted into an oxide
TETANUS
noun: an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, July 23, 2026.