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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #166 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Thursday, August 13, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #166

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

Want one more try first? Play #166.

Hints for each word in #166

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

    adjective: lacking a visible order or organization

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with C.

    Show the word

    CHAOTIC

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: make reference to

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with M and ends with N.

    Show the word

    MENTION

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the state of being absent

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with E.

    Show the word

    ABSENCE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: deeply affected or marked by mental or physical pain or injury

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with D.

    Show the word

    SCARRED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: navigational instrument for finding directions

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with S.

    Show the word

    COMPASS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: partial or total loss of memory

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with A.

    Show the word

    AMNESIA

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a diluting agent

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with R.

    Show the word

    THINNER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: maintain or assert

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with D.

    Show the word

    CONTEND

What is the answer to Deluxe #166?

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: CHAOTIC, MENTION, ABSENCE, SCARRED

Down: COMPASS, AMNESIA, THINNER, CONTEND

How do you solve #166 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 11 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

Show every swap
  1. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 3. This puts C and N in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 4, column 5. This puts T and N in place.
  3. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 3, column 2. This puts O and E in place.
  4. Swap row 7, column 3 with row 7, column 4. This puts A and R in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 5, column 6. This puts H in place.
  6. Swap row 5, column 6 with row 6, column 3. This puts C and I in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 2, column 3. This puts I in place.
  8. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 6, column 7. This puts M and N in place.
  9. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 1. This puts O in place.
  10. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 7. This puts N in place.
  11. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 5, column 7. This puts H and E in place.
  12. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 6. This puts M in place.
  13. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 5, column 3. This puts O and S in place.
  14. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts I in place.
  15. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 2. This puts E and B in place.
  16. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 4, column 7. This puts T in place.
  17. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 4. This puts E in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 7, column 7. This puts P and D in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 6, column 1. This puts A in place.
  20. Swap row 6, column 1 with row 7, column 5. This puts S and R in place.

What do the words in #166 mean?

CHAOTIC
adjective: lacking a visible order or organization
MENTION
verb: make reference to
ABSENCE
noun: the state of being absent
SCARRED
adjective: deeply affected or marked by mental or physical pain or injury
COMPASS
noun: navigational instrument for finding directions
AMNESIA
noun: partial or total loss of memory
THINNER
noun: a diluting agent
CONTEND
verb: maintain or assert

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Thursday, August 13, 2026.