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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #179 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Wednesday, August 26, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #179

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

Want one more try first? Play #179.

Hints for each word in #179

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: an exaggerated opinion of your own importance

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with M.

    Show the word

    EGOTISM

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: most quickly

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with T.

    Show the word

    FASTEST

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: long-legged spotted cat of Africa and southwestern Asia having nonretractile claws

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with H.

    Show the word

    CHEETAH

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with D.

    Show the word

    STEWARD

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with S.

    Show the word

    EFFECTS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: designed to incite to indecency or lust

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with E.

    Show the word

    OBSCENE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a disposition to remain inactive or inert

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with A.

    Show the word

    INERTIA

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: provided with a worthy adversary or competitor

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with M and ends with D.

    Show the word

    MATCHED

What is the answer to Deluxe #179?

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: EGOTISM, FASTEST, CHEETAH, STEWARD

Down: EFFECTS, OBSCENE, INERTIA, MATCHED

How do you solve #179 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
  1. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 4, column 3. This puts E and C in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 7, column 6. This puts O and R in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 3. This puts I and S in place.
  4. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 5, column 3. This puts N and E in place.
  5. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 4, column 7. This puts S and C in place.
  6. Swap row 3, column 7 with row 5, column 6. This puts T and A in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 4. This puts G in place.
  8. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 3, column 5. This puts T and E in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 2. This puts H in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 6, column 3. This puts N in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 7, column 5. This puts T and A in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 5, column 7. This puts H in place.
  13. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 6, column 7. This puts S and E in place.
  14. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 7, column 1. This puts F in place.
  15. Swap row 7, column 1 with row 7, column 7. This puts S and D in place.
  16. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 1. This puts E in place.
  17. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts C in place.
  18. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 6, column 1. This puts B and T in place.
  19. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 7, column 3. This puts E in place.
  20. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 7, column 4. This puts F and W in place.

What do the words in #179 mean?

EGOTISM
noun: an exaggerated opinion of your own importance
FASTEST
adverb: most quickly
CHEETAH
noun: long-legged spotted cat of Africa and southwestern Asia having nonretractile claws
STEWARD
noun: someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else
EFFECTS
noun: property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
OBSCENE
adjective: designed to incite to indecency or lust
INERTIA
noun: a disposition to remain inactive or inert
MATCHED
adjective: provided with a worthy adversary or competitor

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, August 26, 2026.