Deluxe Waffle #163 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Monday, August 10, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #163
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #163.
Hints for each word in #163
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
adjective: assembled for use
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with M and ends with D.
Show the word
MOUNTED
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with S.
Show the word
SPIRITS
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a particular branch of scientific knowledge
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with E.
Show the word
SCIENCE
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: causing fear or dread or terror
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with D.
Show the word
DREADED
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: used incorrectly or carelessly or for an improper purpose
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with M and ends with D.
Show the word
MISUSED
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: put into service
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with U and ends with E.
Show the word
UTILIZE
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: being two identical
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with D.
Show the word
TWINNED
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: become wider
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with D.
Show the word
DISTEND
What is the answer to Deluxe #163?
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: MOUNTED, SPIRITS, SCIENCE, DREADED
Down: MISUSED, UTILIZE, TWINNED, DISTEND
How do you solve #163 in 20 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 12 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 2, column 1. This puts M and I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 7. This puts O and S in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 7, column 3. This puts U and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts T and D in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 7. This puts S and E in place.
- Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 3. This puts S and I in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 4. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 7, column 7. This puts R and D in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 1, column 7. This puts D in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 3, column 5. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 6. This puts I and C in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 2. This puts P in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 5. This puts T and N in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 2, column 7. This puts W in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 4, column 3. This puts I in place.
- Swap row 4, column 3 with row 7, column 5. This puts L and D in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 5, column 4. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 4. This puts T and A in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 5, column 2 with row 7, column 6. This puts C and E in place.
What do the words in #163 mean?
- MOUNTED
- adjective: assembled for use
- SPIRITS
- noun: an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
- SCIENCE
- noun: a particular branch of scientific knowledge
- DREADED
- adjective: causing fear or dread or terror
- MISUSED
- adjective: used incorrectly or carelessly or for an improper purpose
- UTILIZE
- verb: put into service
- TWINNED
- adjective: being two identical
- DISTEND
- verb: become wider
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Monday, August 10, 2026.