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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #38 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Tuesday, April 7, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #38

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

Want one more try first? Play #38.

Hints for each word in #38

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 colorless water-soluble glutinous protein obtained from animal tissues such as bone and skin

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with N.

    Show the word

    GELATIN

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with T.

    Show the word

    RETRACT

  3. Word 3: the third row (row 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

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: causing fear or dread or terror

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with D.

    Show the word

    DREADED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: adorn with bands of flowers or leaves

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with D.

    Show the word

    GARLAND

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: informal terms for money

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with L and ends with E.

    Show the word

    LETTUCE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: browned over by exposure to heat

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with D.

    Show the word

    TOASTED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: being perceived or observed

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with N and ends with D.

    Show the word

    NOTICED

What is the answer to Deluxe #38?

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: GELATIN, RETRACT, AQUATIC, DREADED

Down: GARLAND, LETTUCE, TOASTED, NOTICED

How do you solve #38 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 1, column 6. This puts G and I in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 3, column 7. This puts A and T in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts T and D in place.
  4. Swap row 1, column 7 with row 5, column 7. This puts N and C in place.
  5. Swap row 5, column 4 with row 6, column 5. This puts A and E in place.
  6. Swap row 5, column 6 with row 7, column 2. This puts I and R in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 1. This puts L in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 5. This puts E and S in place.
  9. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts Q in place.
  10. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 2, column 3. This puts E in place.
  11. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 3. This puts T in place.
  12. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 3. This puts A and U in place.
  13. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 2. This puts E in place.
  14. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 7, column 5. This puts O and D in place.
  15. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 7, column 6. This puts E in place.
  16. Swap row 2, column 7 with row 7, column 7. This puts O and D in place.
  17. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 6, column 3. This puts C in place.
  18. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 6, column 7. This puts T and E in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts T in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 1 with row 6, column 1. This puts A and N in place.

What do the words in #38 mean?

GELATIN
noun: a colorless water-soluble glutinous protein obtained from animal tissues such as bone and skin
RETRACT
verb: formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
AQUATIC
noun: a plant that lives in or on water
DREADED
adjective: causing fear or dread or terror
GARLAND
verb: adorn with bands of flowers or leaves
LETTUCE
noun: informal terms for money
TOASTED
adjective: browned over by exposure to heat
NOTICED
adjective: being perceived or observed

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, April 7, 2026.