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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #17 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Tuesday, March 17, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #17

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

Want one more try first? Play #17.

Hints for each word in #17

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: a conveyance that transports people or objects

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with V and ends with E.

    Show the word

    VEHICLE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with R.

    Show the word

    CASHIER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: direct or control

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with E.

    Show the word

    OPERATE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: imagine to be the case or true or probable

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with T.

    Show the word

    SUSPECT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with V and ends with S.

    Show the word

    VICIOUS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a woman host

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with H and ends with S.

    Show the word

    HOSTESS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: coins collectively

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with E.

    Show the word

    COINAGE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with T.

    Show the word

    EARNEST

What is the answer to Deluxe #17?

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: VEHICLE, CASHIER, OPERATE, SUSPECT

Down: VICIOUS, HOSTESS, COINAGE, EARNEST

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

What do the words in #17 mean?

VEHICLE
noun: a conveyance that transports people or objects
CASHIER
noun: an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money
OPERATE
verb: direct or control
SUSPECT
verb: imagine to be the case or true or probable
VICIOUS
adjective: (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
HOSTESS
noun: a woman host
COINAGE
noun: coins collectively
EARNEST
noun: something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, March 17, 2026.