Deluxe Waffle #51 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Monday, April 20, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #51
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #51.
Hints for each word in #51
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.
Word 1: the first row (row 1)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: examine and note the similarities or differences of
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with E.
Show the word
COMPARE
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: power to direct or determine
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with L.
Show the word
CONTROL
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: someone who prowls or sneaks about
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with R.
Show the word
PROWLER
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a pale cane syrup
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with E.
Show the word
TREACLE
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with T.
Show the word
COCKPIT
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a hole (usually with a flush cover) through which a person can gain access to an underground structure
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with M and ends with E.
Show the word
MANHOLE
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: polymerized from acrylonitrile
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with C.
Show the word
ACRYLIC
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: make larger
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with E.
Show the word
ENLARGE
What is the answer to Deluxe #51?
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: COMPARE, CONTROL, PROWLER, TREACLE
Down: COCKPIT, MANHOLE, ACRYLIC, ENLARGE
How do you solve #51 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
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 5. This puts C and R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 6, column 7. This puts O and G in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 2. This puts T and R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 5, column 4. This puts O and W in place.
- Swap row 4, column 3 with row 6, column 1. This puts H and I in place.
- Swap row 6, column 3 with row 7, column 1. This puts L and T in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 2. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 3. This puts C in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 4, column 1. This puts N and K in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 1, column 7. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 2, column 1. This puts R and O in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 7. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts C and E in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 7, column 4. This puts Y in place.
- Swap row 7, column 4 with row 7, column 7. This puts A and E in place.
- Swap row 4, column 7 with row 5, column 7. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 5, column 7 with row 7, column 5. This puts R and C in place.
- Swap row 5, column 3 with row 7, column 3. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 7, column 2 with row 7, column 3. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 7, column 2 with row 7, column 6. This puts R and L in place.
What do the words in #51 mean?
- COMPARE
- verb: examine and note the similarities or differences of
- CONTROL
- noun: power to direct or determine
- PROWLER
- noun: someone who prowls or sneaks about
- TREACLE
- noun: a pale cane syrup
- COCKPIT
- noun: compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft
- MANHOLE
- noun: a hole (usually with a flush cover) through which a person can gain access to an underground structure
- ACRYLIC
- noun: polymerized from acrylonitrile
- ENLARGE
- verb: make larger
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Monday, April 20, 2026.