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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #21 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Saturday, March 21, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #21

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

Want one more try first? Play #21.

Hints for each word in #21

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 browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with N.

    Show the word

    SUNBURN

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

    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

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the ball-shaped capsule containing the vertebrate eye

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with L.

    Show the word

    EYEBALL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: become wider

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with D.

    Show the word

    DISTEND

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: attain success or reach a desired goal

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with D.

    Show the word

    SUCCEED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the fourth book of the Old Testament

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with N and ends with S.

    Show the word

    NUMBERS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: (often followed by `of') not aware

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with U and ends with E.

    Show the word

    UNAWARE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with N and ends with D.

    Show the word

    NESTLED

What is the answer to Deluxe #21?

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: SUNBURN, COMPASS, EYEBALL, DISTEND

Down: SUCCEED, NUMBERS, UNAWARE, NESTLED

How do you solve #21 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 10 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

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

What do the words in #21 mean?

SUNBURN
noun: a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
COMPASS
noun: navigational instrument for finding directions
EYEBALL
noun: the ball-shaped capsule containing the vertebrate eye
DISTEND
verb: become wider
SUCCEED
verb: attain success or reach a desired goal
NUMBERS
noun: the fourth book of the Old Testament
UNAWARE
adjective: (often followed by `of') not aware
NESTLED
adjective: drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Saturday, March 21, 2026.