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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #77 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Saturday, May 16, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #77

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

Want one more try first? Play #77.

Hints for each word in #77

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 man who is a stupid incompetent fool

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with J and ends with S.

    Show the word

    JACKASS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with M and ends with A.

    Show the word

    MILITIA

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with L and ends with G.

    Show the word

    LEAPING

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a person who inhabits a particular place

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with R.

    Show the word

    DWELLER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: in utter disorder

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with J and ends with D.

    Show the word

    JUMBLED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: compare critically

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with C and ends with E.

    Show the word

    COLLATE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a mound of earth made by ants as they dig their nest

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with L.

    Show the word

    ANTHILL

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: walk as if unable to control one's movements

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with R.

    Show the word

    STAGGER

What is the answer to Deluxe #77?

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: JACKASS, MILITIA, LEAPING, DWELLER

Down: JUMBLED, COLLATE, ANTHILL, STAGGER

How do you solve #77 in 20 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 8 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.

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

What do the words in #77 mean?

JACKASS
noun: a man who is a stupid incompetent fool
MILITIA
noun: civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army
LEAPING
noun: a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
DWELLER
noun: a person who inhabits a particular place
JUMBLED
adjective: in utter disorder
COLLATE
verb: compare critically
ANTHILL
noun: a mound of earth made by ants as they dig their nest
STAGGER
verb: walk as if unable to control one's movements

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Saturday, May 16, 2026.