Daily Waffle #97 answers and hints
Need a nudge on the Friday, June 5, 2026 grid? Start with one clue. Nothing else shows until you tap it.
The starting grid for #97
6 words hide in this 5×5 grid. You get 15 swaps, and the best solve takes 10.
Want one more try first? Play #97.
Hints for each word in #97
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: a loud harsh or strident noise
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with E.
Show the word
BLARE
Word 2: the middle row (row 3)
Hint 1: the clue
adjective: strong and sharp
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with D.
Show the word
ACRID
Word 3: the bottom row (row 5)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with S and ends with W.
Show the word
SINEW
Word 4: the left column (column 1)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a United States youth subculture of the 1950s
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with B and ends with S.
Show the word
BEATS
Word 5: the middle column (column 3)
Hint 1: the clue
noun: a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with A and ends with N.
Show the word
APRON
Word 6: the right column (column 5)
Hint 1: the clue
verb: give qualities or abilities to
Hint 2: first and last letter
It starts with E and ends with W.
Show the word
ENDOW
What is the answer to Waffle #97?
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: BLARE, ACRID, SINEW
Down: BEATS, APRON, ENDOW
How do you solve #97 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
- Swap row 1, column 3 with row 1, column 5. This puts A and E in place.
- Swap row 1, column 4 with row 5, column 4. This puts R and E in place.
- Swap row 3, column 5 with row 5, column 3. This puts D and N in place.
- Swap row 1, column 1 with row 2, column 1. This puts B in place.
- Swap row 2, column 1 with row 3, column 1. This puts E and A in place.
- Swap row 1, column 2 with row 3, column 2. This puts L in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 3, column 2. This puts C in place.
- Swap row 2, column 3 with row 4, column 1. This puts P and T in place.
- Swap row 3, column 3 with row 4, column 5. This puts R in place.
- Swap row 4, column 5 with row 5, column 5. This puts O and W in place.
What do the words in #97 mean?
- BLARE
- noun: a loud harsh or strident noise
- ACRID
- adjective: strong and sharp
- SINEW
- noun: a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment
- BEATS
- noun: a United States youth subculture of the 1950s
- APRON
- noun: a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
- ENDOW
- verb: give qualities or abilities to
Word meanings come from WordNet 3.1, a free English dictionary from Princeton University. Puzzle published Friday, June 5, 2026.