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Waffle Daily

Daily Waffle #140 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Saturday, July 18, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #140

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

Want one more try first? Play #140.

Hints for each word in #140

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 top row (row 1)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with E.

    Show the word

    PAUSE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with P.

    Show the word

    PLUMP

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: cause to move back by force or influence

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with R and ends with L.

    Show the word

    REPEL

  4. Word 4: the left column (column 1)

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with P and ends with R.

    Show the word

    PAPER

  5. Word 5: the middle column (column 3)

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: seize and take control without authority and possibly with force

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with U and ends with P.

    Show the word

    USURP

  6. Word 6: the right column (column 5)

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: force to leave or move out

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with E and ends with L.

    Show the word

    EXPEL

What is the answer to Waffle #140?

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: PAUSE, PLUMP, REPEL

Down: PAPER, USURP, EXPEL

How do you solve #140 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
  1. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 1. This puts A and E in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 5 with row 5, column 1. This puts E and R in place.
  3. Swap row 4, column 3 with row 5, column 5. This puts R and L in place.
  4. Swap row 5, column 3 with row 5, column 4. This puts P and E in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 1. This puts S in place.
  6. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 5, column 2. This puts A and E in place.
  7. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 2, column 5. This puts X in place.
  8. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 2. This puts S in place.
  9. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 2. This puts L in place.
  10. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 4. This puts P and M in place.

What do the words in #140 mean?

PAUSE
noun: a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
PLUMP
adjective: sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure
REPEL
verb: cause to move back by force or influence
PAPER
noun: a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
USURP
verb: seize and take control without authority and possibly with force
EXPEL
verb: force to leave or move out

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Saturday, July 18, 2026.