Deluxe Waffle #79 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Monday, May 18, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #79
8 words hide in this 7×7 grid. You get 25 swaps, and the best solve takes 20.
Want one more try first? Play #79.
Hints for each word in #79
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
noun: a meeting for execution of a group's functions
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with N.
Show the word
SESSION
Word 2: the second row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name and pronounced as one word
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with M.
Show the word
ACRONYM
Word 3: the third row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a mixture of lime or gypsum with sand and water
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with R.
Show the word
PLASTER
Word 4: the fourth row (row 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: migratory
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with N and ends with C.
Show the word
NOMADIC
Word 5: the first column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: make sharp or sharper
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with N.
Show the word
SHARPEN
Word 6: the second column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: witty language used to convey insults or scorn
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with M.
Show the word
SARCASM
Word 7: the third column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: set afire
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with D.
Show the word
IGNITED
Word 8: the fourth column (column 7)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: of or relating to or denoting numbers
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with N and ends with C.
Show the word
NUMERIC
What is the answer to Deluxe #79?
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: SESSION, ACRONYM, PLASTER, NOMADIC
Down: SHARPEN, SARCASM, IGNITED, NUMERIC
How do you solve #79 in 20 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 9 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 3. This puts E and C in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 2. This puts A and C in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 3, column 5. This puts O and N in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 7, column 5. This puts R and D in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 6. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 4, column 5. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts I and T in place.
- Swap row 1, column 6 with row 6, column 5. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 6, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts E and N in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 6. This puts A in place.
- Swap row 2, column 7 with row 5, column 4. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 3, column 7. This puts M in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 5, column 6. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 6, column 3. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 3, column 6 with row 7, column 7. This puts Y and C in place.
- Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 3. This puts P and A in place.
- Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 2. This puts O in place.
- Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 6. This puts S and I in place.
What do the words in #79 mean?
- SESSION
- noun: a meeting for execution of a group's functions
- ACRONYM
- noun: a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name and pronounced as one word
- PLASTER
- noun: a mixture of lime or gypsum with sand and water
- NOMADIC
- adjective: migratory
- SHARPEN
- verb: make sharp or sharper
- SARCASM
- noun: witty language used to convey insults or scorn
- IGNITED
- adjective: set afire
- NUMERIC
- adjective: of or relating to or denoting numbers
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Monday, May 18, 2026.