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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #31 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Tuesday, March 31, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #31

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

Want one more try first? Play #31.

Hints for each word in #31

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

    verb: administer baptism to

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with B and ends with E.

    Show the word

    BAPTIZE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a relationship of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with T.

    Show the word

    RAPPORT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: put into service

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with U and ends with E.

    Show the word

    UTILIZE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a condition promoting sanitary practices

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with H and ends with E.

    Show the word

    HYGIENE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: one of the administrative divisions of a large city

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with B and ends with H.

    Show the word

    BOROUGH

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with G.

    Show the word

    POPPING

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with E.

    Show the word

    IDOLIZE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with E.

    Show the word

    EXTREME

What is the answer to Deluxe #31?

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: BAPTIZE, RAPPORT, UTILIZE, HYGIENE

Down: BOROUGH, POPPING, IDOLIZE, EXTREME

How do you solve #31 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 2 with row 3, column 7. This puts A and T in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 4, column 5. This puts E and L in place.
  3. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 3. This puts R and I in place.
  4. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 6. This puts T in place.
  5. Swap row 5, column 6 with row 7, column 5. This puts Z and E in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts I in place.
  7. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 7. This puts R in place.
  8. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 2, column 7. This puts X in place.
  9. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 7, column 2. This puts O and Y in place.
  10. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 6, column 3. This puts N in place.
  11. Swap row 3, column 2 with row 7, column 3. This puts A in place.
  12. Swap row 7, column 3 with row 7, column 7. This puts G and E in place.
  13. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 4. This puts L in place.
  14. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 7, column 1. This puts P and H in place.
  15. Swap row 3, column 6 with row 5, column 7. This puts R in place.
  16. Swap row 5, column 7 with row 7, column 4. This puts E and I in place.
  17. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts T in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 6, column 7. This puts O and M in place.
  19. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts U in place.
  20. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 7, column 6. This puts P and N in place.

What do the words in #31 mean?

BAPTIZE
verb: administer baptism to
RAPPORT
noun: a relationship of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people
UTILIZE
verb: put into service
HYGIENE
noun: a condition promoting sanitary practices
BOROUGH
noun: one of the administrative divisions of a large city
POPPING
noun: a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork
IDOLIZE
verb: love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess
EXTREME
adjective: of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, March 31, 2026.