Daily Waffle #1 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Sunday, March 1, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

SEATAHMIERERNKSEWGAHD

The starting grid for #1

6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.

Want one more try first? Play #1.

Hints for each word in #1

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 top row (row 1)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: move somewhere quickly
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with W and ends with K.
Show the word
WHISK
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: remove from memory or existence
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with E.
Show the word
ERASE
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: forced to turn and face attackers
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with T and ends with D.
Show the word
TREED
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with W and ends with T.
Show the word
WHEAT
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: an iconic mental representation
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with E.
Show the word
IMAGE
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: make uniform
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with K and ends with D.
Show the word
KNEAD

What is the answer to Waffle #1?

The answer is 6 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

WHISKHMNERASEAGATREED

Across: WHISK, ERASE, TREED

Down: WHEAT, IMAGE, KNEAD

How do you solve #1 in 10 swaps?

Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 6 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 5, column 4. This puts H and E in place.
Swap row 1, column 5 with row 4, column 1. This puts K and A in place.
Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts A and E in place.
Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 4. This puts S in place.
Swap row 1, column 1 with row 5, column 1. This puts W and T in place.
Swap row 1, column 3 with row 2, column 5. This puts I in place.
Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 5. This puts N in place.
Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 5. This puts E and A in place.
Swap row 3, column 4 with row 4, column 3. This puts S in place.
Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 2. This puts G and R in place.

What do the words in #1 mean?

WHISK: verb: move somewhere quickly
ERASE: verb: remove from memory or existence
TREED: adjective: forced to turn and face attackers
WHEAT: noun: annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains
IMAGE: noun: an iconic mental representation
KNEAD: verb: make uniform

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Sunday, March 1, 2026.