Skip to content
Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #197 answers and hints

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

The starting grid for #197

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

Want one more try first? Play #197.

Hints for each word in #197

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 acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with A.

    Show the word

    CHOLERA

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with G.

    Show the word

    ROTTING

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: not either

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with N and ends with R.

    Show the word

    NEITHER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: bearing an heraldic device

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with D.

    Show the word

    CRESTED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with C.

    Show the word

    CHRONIC

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with E.

    Show the word

    OUTSIDE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a defamatory or abusive word or phrase

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with T.

    Show the word

    EPITHET

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: marked by extreme anger

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with D.

    Show the word

    ANGERED

What is the answer to Deluxe #197?

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: CHOLERA, ROTTING, NEITHER, CRESTED

Down: CHRONIC, OUTSIDE, EPITHET, ANGERED

How do you solve #197 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 1. This puts C and O in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 6 with row 4, column 7. This puts R and E in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 7, column 6. This puts A and E in place.
  4. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 1. This puts P and R in place.
  5. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 7, column 3. This puts I and E in place.
  6. Swap row 6, column 7 with row 7, column 4. This puts E and S in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 5, column 2. This puts E in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 5. This puts T in place.
  9. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 6, column 1. This puts H and I in place.
  10. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 1, column 5. This puts L in place.
  11. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 7, column 2. This puts E and R in place.
  12. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 6. This puts H in place.
  13. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 5, column 7. This puts N and R in place.
  14. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 6. This puts E in place.
  15. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 6, column 3. This puts D in place.
  16. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 7, column 5. This puts O and T in place.
  17. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts N in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 5. This puts S and H in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 3 with row 5, column 4. This puts I in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 7. This puts T and D in place.

What do the words in #197 mean?

CHOLERA
noun: an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food
ROTTING
noun: (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
NEITHER
adjective: not either
CRESTED
adjective: bearing an heraldic device
CHRONIC
adjective: being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
OUTSIDE
adjective: relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
EPITHET
noun: a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
ANGERED
adjective: marked by extreme anger

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