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Waffle Daily

Daily Waffle #176 answers and hints

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

The starting grid for #176

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

Want one more try first? Play #176.

Hints for each word in #176

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: an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with S.

    Show the word

    GLOSS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with R.

    Show the word

    ORDER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with M and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    MERCY

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: educate for a future role or function

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with G and ends with M.

    Show the word

    GROOM

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: advanced in years

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with O and ends with R.

    Show the word

    OLDER

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a pesticide in suspension or solution

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with Y.

    Show the word

    SPRAY

What is the answer to Waffle #176?

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: GLOSS, ORDER, MERCY

Down: GROOM, OLDER, SPRAY

How do you solve #176 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
  1. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 2. This puts R and E in place.
  2. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 3, column 1. This puts O in place.
  3. Swap row 1, column 1 with row 5, column 4. This puts G and C in place.
  4. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 2, column 1. This puts L in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 3 with row 3, column 4. This puts O in place.
  6. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 1. This puts E and M in place.
  7. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 1. This puts R in place.
  8. Swap row 1, column 4 with row 4, column 3. This puts S and E in place.
  9. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 3. This puts D in place.
  10. Swap row 2, column 3 with row 5, column 3. This puts L and R in place.

What do the words in #176 mean?

GLOSS
noun: an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text
ORDER
noun: (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
MERCY
noun: leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
GROOM
verb: educate for a future role or function
OLDER
adjective: advanced in years
SPRAY
noun: a pesticide in suspension or solution

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