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Waffle Daily

Daily Waffle #178 answers and hints

Need a nudge on the Tuesday, August 25, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.

The starting grid for #178

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

Want one more try first? Play #178.

Hints for each word in #178

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: any of various devices for taking hold of objects

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with S.

    Show the word

    TONGS

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adjective: open to or abounding in fresh air

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with A and ends with D.

    Show the word

    AIRED

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    adverb: in or at that place or location

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with E.

    Show the word

    THERE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: a distinguishing feature of your personal nature

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with T and ends with T.

    Show the word

    TRAIT

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    noun: one skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with N and ends with E.

    Show the word

    NURSE

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

    Hint 1: the clue

    verb: move unobtrusively or furtively

    Hint 2: first and last letter

    It starts with S and ends with E.

    Show the word

    SIDLE

What is the answer to Waffle #178?

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: TONGS, AIRED, THERE

Down: TRAIT, NURSE, SIDLE

How do you solve #178 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 3 with row 1, column 4. This puts N and G in place.
  2. Swap row 2, column 1 with row 4, column 1. This puts R and I in place.
  3. Swap row 2, column 5 with row 5, column 3. This puts I and E in place.
  4. Swap row 3, column 4 with row 5, column 4. This puts E and R in place.
  5. Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 5. This puts O in place.
  6. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 3. This puts R in place.
  7. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 3, column 2. This puts I in place.
  8. Swap row 3, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts A and E in place.
  9. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 4, column 3. This puts S in place.
  10. Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 2. This puts D and H in place.

What do the words in #178 mean?

TONGS
noun: any of various devices for taking hold of objects
AIRED
adjective: open to or abounding in fresh air
THERE
adverb: in or at that place or location
TRAIT
noun: a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
NURSE
noun: one skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)
SIDLE
verb: move unobtrusively or furtively

Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Tuesday, August 25, 2026.