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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #186 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Wednesday, September 2, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #186

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

Want one more try first? Play #186.

Hints for each word in #186

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 authoritative rule

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with E.

    Show the word

    DICTATE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: from beginning to end

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with H.

    Show the word

    THROUGH

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with F and ends with C.

    Show the word

    FANATIC

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: suitable for or suggestive of singing

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with L and ends with L.

    Show the word

    LYRICAL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with L.

    Show the word

    DUTIFUL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with R.

    Show the word

    CORONER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a plant that lives in or on water

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with C.

    Show the word

    AQUATIC

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: of or relating to the philosophical study of ethics

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with L.

    Show the word

    ETHICAL

What is the answer to Deluxe #186?

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: DICTATE, THROUGH, FANATIC, LYRICAL

Down: DUTIFUL, CORONER, AQUATIC, ETHICAL

How do you solve #186 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 3 with row 1, column 6. This puts C and T in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 4, column 5. This puts E and A in place.
  3. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 4, column 7. This puts U and I in place.
  4. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 7, column 4. This puts T and I in place.
  5. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 7, column 7. This puts T and L in place.
  6. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 7, column 6. This puts H and A in place.
  7. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 6, column 3. This puts O and E in place.
  8. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 6, column 7. This puts O and A in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 2. This puts D in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 1, column 4. This puts T in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 5, column 3. This puts I and N in place.
  12. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts A in place.
  13. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 6. This puts O in place.
  14. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 5, column 6. This puts I in place.
  15. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts Q and L in place.
  16. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts T in place.
  17. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 7, column 5. This puts U and C in place.
  18. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 6, column 5. This puts G in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 6, column 5. This puts I in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 7, column 3. This puts A and R in place.

What do the words in #186 mean?

DICTATE
noun: an authoritative rule
THROUGH
adverb: from beginning to end
FANATIC
noun: a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause)
LYRICAL
adjective: suitable for or suggestive of singing
DUTIFUL
adjective: willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect
CORONER
noun: a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
AQUATIC
noun: a plant that lives in or on water
ETHICAL
adjective: of or relating to the philosophical study of ethics

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, September 2, 2026.