Daily Waffle #129 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Tuesday, July 7, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #129
6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.
Want one more try first? Play #129.
Hints for each word in #129
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: an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with C.
Show the word
PANIC
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a colorless gas (O3) soluble in alkalis and cold water
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with O and ends with E.
Show the word
OZONE
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with G and ends with T.
Show the word
GUEST
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a pointed projection
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with P and ends with G.
Show the word
PRONG
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a trap for birds or small mammals
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with N and ends with E.
Show the word
NOOSE
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with C and ends with T.
Show the word
CREST
What is the answer to Waffle #129?
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: PANIC, OZONE, GUEST
Down: PRONG, NOOSE, CREST
How do you solve #129 in 10 swaps?
Make the swaps that fix two tiles at once first. This grid has 5 of them. The list below is one shortest route from the start to the answer.
Show every swap
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 1, column 2. This puts P and A in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 4, column 5. This puts O and S in place.
- Swap row 1, column 5 with row 3, column 5. This puts C in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 3, column 5. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 4, column 1. This puts R and N in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 4, column 3. This puts Z in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 4, column 3. This puts S in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts O and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 1. This puts N in place.
- Swap row 5, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts G and T in place.
What do the words in #129 mean?
- PANIC
- noun: an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
- OZONE
- noun: a colorless gas (O3) soluble in alkalis and cold water
- GUEST
- noun: a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
- PRONG
- noun: a pointed projection
- NOOSE
- noun: a trap for birds or small mammals
- CREST
- noun: the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, July 7, 2026.