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Waffle Daily

Deluxe Waffle #84 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Saturday, May 23, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #84

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

Want one more try first? Play #84.

Hints for each word in #84

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

    adjective: relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with R.

    Show the word

    INSULAR

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with S.

    Show the word

    STRINGS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: proceed or issue forth, as from a source

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with E.

    Show the word

    EMANATE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a dish served as the last course of a meal

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with D and ends with T.

    Show the word

    DESSERT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: in place of, or as an alternative to

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with I and ends with D.

    Show the word

    INSTEAD

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: distinguish oneself

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with S.

    Show the word

    SURPASS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: an associative relation

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with L and ends with E.

    Show the word

    LINKAGE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: (usually preceded by `in') a detail or point

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with T.

    Show the word

    RESPECT

What is the answer to Deluxe #84?

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: INSULAR, STRINGS, EMANATE, DESSERT

Down: INSTEAD, SURPASS, LINKAGE, RESPECT

How do you solve #84 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
  1. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 4. This puts I and U in place.
  2. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 1. This puts U and S in place.
  3. Swap row 4, column 1 with row 6, column 7. This puts T and C in place.
  4. Swap row 5, column 4 with row 7, column 3. This puts N and S in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 3. This puts N in place.
  6. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts P in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 7, column 1. This puts L and D in place.
  8. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 6. This puts N in place.
  9. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 6. This puts I in place.
  10. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 3, column 7. This puts S in place.
  11. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 3, column 6. This puts G in place.
  12. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 4, column 7. This puts P in place.
  13. Swap row 3, column 3 with row 7, column 5. This puts R and E in place.
  14. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 3. This puts I in place.
  15. Swap row 5, column 3 with row 7, column 2. This puts A and E in place.
  16. Swap row 5, column 2 with row 6, column 5. This puts M in place.
  17. Swap row 6, column 5 with row 7, column 7. This puts G and T in place.
  18. Swap row 5, column 5 with row 5, column 6. This puts T in place.
  19. Swap row 5, column 5 with row 5, column 7. This puts E in place.
  20. Swap row 5, column 5 with row 6, column 3. This puts A and S in place.

What do the words in #84 mean?

INSULAR
adjective: relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island
STRINGS
noun: the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments
EMANATE
verb: proceed or issue forth, as from a source
DESSERT
noun: a dish served as the last course of a meal
INSTEAD
adverb: in place of, or as an alternative to
SURPASS
verb: distinguish oneself
LINKAGE
noun: an associative relation
RESPECT
noun: (usually preceded by `in') a detail or point

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Saturday, May 23, 2026.