Daily Waffle #109 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Wednesday, June 17, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #109
6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.
Want one more try first? Play #109.
Hints for each word in #109
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
noun: South African statesman and soldier (1870-1950)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with S.
Show the word
SMUTS
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: someone who drives racing cars at high speeds
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with R.
Show the word
RACER
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with Y.
Show the word
BERRY
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: clean with hard rubbing
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with B.
Show the word
SCRUB
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with U and ends with R.
Show the word
ULCER
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with Y.
Show the word
STRAY
What is the answer to Waffle #109?
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
Across: SMUTS, RACER, BERRY
Down: SCRUB, ULCER, STRAY
How do you solve #109 in 10 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 7 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 1. This puts U and R in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 4, column 5. This puts T and A in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts S and Y in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 3. This puts C and R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 3, column 4. This puts A and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 5. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 1. This puts U in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 2. This puts L and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 3, column 5. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 1. This puts C and B in place.
What do the words in #109 mean?
- SMUTS
- noun: South African statesman and soldier (1870-1950)
- RACER
- noun: someone who drives racing cars at high speeds
- BERRY
- noun: any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits
- SCRUB
- verb: clean with hard rubbing
- ULCER
- noun: a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue
- STRAY
- verb: move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Wednesday, June 17, 2026.