Daily Waffle #182 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Saturday, August 29, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #182
6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.
Want one more try first? Play #182.
Hints for each word in #182
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
verb: make a hole, especially with a pointed power or hand tool
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with L.
Show the word
DRILL
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: (theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with F and ends with S.
Show the word
FLIES
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a chronic drinker
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with R and ends with Y.
Show the word
RUMMY
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: hold back to a later time
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with D and ends with R.
Show the word
DEFER
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with I and ends with M.
Show the word
IDIOM
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: vigorously passionate
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with L and ends with Y.
Show the word
LUSTY
What is the answer to Waffle #182?
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: DRILL, FLIES, RUMMY
Down: DEFER, IDIOM, LUSTY
How do you solve #182 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 5. This puts D and L in place.
- Swap row 2, column 5 with row 5, column 1. This puts U and R in place.
- Swap row 3, column 2 with row 5, column 2. This puts L and U in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 4, column 1. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 2, column 1. This puts E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 4, column 3. This puts L and O in place.
- Swap row 3, column 1 with row 4, column 5. This puts F in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 4, column 5. This puts T in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 3. This puts M in place.
- Swap row 4, column 1 with row 5, column 5. This puts E and Y in place.
What do the words in #182 mean?
- DRILL
- verb: make a hole, especially with a pointed power or hand tool
- FLIES
- noun: (theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
- RUMMY
- noun: a chronic drinker
- DEFER
- verb: hold back to a later time
- IDIOM
- noun: a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
- LUSTY
- adjective: vigorously passionate
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Saturday, August 29, 2026.