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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #165 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Wednesday, August 12, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #165

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

Want one more try first? Play #165.

Hints for each word in #165

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: object formed by a mold

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with G.

    Show the word

    CASTING

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a crystalline compound that has the cool and minty taste and odor that occurs naturally in peppermint oil

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with M and ends with L.

    Show the word

    MENTHOL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a spot that is open late at night and that provides entertainment (as singers or dancers) as well as dancing and food and drink

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with T.

    Show the word

    CABARET

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: make more cheerful

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with L and ends with N.

    Show the word

    LIGHTEN

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: arousing or provoking laughter

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with L.

    Show the word

    COMICAL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a bag filled with sand

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with G.

    Show the word

    SANDBAG

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: obtain from someone after their death

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with T.

    Show the word

    INHERIT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a colorless water-soluble glutinous protein obtained from animal tissues such as bone and skin

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with N.

    Show the word

    GELATIN

What is the answer to Deluxe #165?

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: CASTING, MENTHOL, CABARET, LIGHTEN

Down: COMICAL, SANDBAG, INHERIT, GELATIN

How do you solve #165 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
  1. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 4, column 1. This puts N and I in place.
  2. Swap row 6, column 3 with row 7, column 7. This puts A and N in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 6. This puts N in place.
  4. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 5. This puts H in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 5. This puts I in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 1. This puts M in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 2, column 1. This puts O in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 4, column 7. This puts C and A in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 2. This puts E in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 7, column 2. This puts A and I in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 6, column 1. This puts A in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts B in place.
  13. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 7, column 4. This puts S and H in place.
  14. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 3, column 3. This puts G in place.
  15. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 3, column 7. This puts N in place.
  16. Swap row 3, column 7 with row 4, column 3. This puts L and D in place.
  17. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 5, column 6. This puts O in place.
  18. Swap row 5, column 6 with row 7, column 1. This puts E and L in place.
  19. Swap row 6, column 7 with row 7, column 3. This puts I in place.
  20. Swap row 7, column 3 with row 7, column 5. This puts G and T in place.

What do the words in #165 mean?

CASTING
noun: object formed by a mold
MENTHOL
noun: a crystalline compound that has the cool and minty taste and odor that occurs naturally in peppermint oil
CABARET
noun: a spot that is open late at night and that provides entertainment (as singers or dancers) as well as dancing and food and drink
LIGHTEN
verb: make more cheerful
COMICAL
adjective: arousing or provoking laughter
SANDBAG
noun: a bag filled with sand
INHERIT
verb: obtain from someone after their death
GELATIN
noun: a colorless water-soluble glutinous protein obtained from animal tissues such as bone and skin

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, August 12, 2026.