Looking for the answers and hints for the Waffle puzzle from January 9, 2026? You’ve come to the right place! Every day, we archive the solutions to help you check your work or get that final clue you need. Below you will find all the answers for yesterday’s Waffle challenge.
Waffle Hints for January 9, 2026
Here are all the official hints to guide you toward the solution.
Down Word Hints:
Down Word 1:
- Five-letter word beginning with M and ending with O, often used to describe a certain type of masculinity.
- This term is associated with strong or aggressive masculine pride.
- Often stereotyped by exhibiting toughness or a lack of sensitivity, you might see this adjective used to describe a movie hero with a rugged exterior.
Down Word 2:
- Five letters in a row: first and last are consonants, and there's a repeating vowel in between.
- What happens to grapes when they lose all their moisture and become a small, sweet snack.
- This can happen to paint or flowers if you leave them out for too long, and they lose all their moisture.
Down Word 3:
- This five-letter word starts with an 'E' and ends with an 'R'.
- It's something you might find lingering in a fireplace long after the flames have died.
- If you get too close to this glowing fragment of a dying fire, you might catch its warmth -- or it might catch you with a spark.
Across Word Hints:
Across Word 1:
- An elusive five-letter word, starting with 'M', and ending with 'E'.
- This term refers to a tiny flying insect that often lives near water or marshy areas.
- Imagine a nuisance at a summer picnic, smaller than a mosquito, but just as pesky.
Across Word 2:
- An action often associated with mountains or ladders, this 5-letter word starts with 'C' and ends with 'B'.
- This verb is used to describe the act of going upward, whether it be on a physical or metaphorical elevation.
- If you want to reach the top of a hill or ascend a career ladder, you would need to engage in this activity.
Across Word 3:
- The first letter is the middle vowel in the alphabet, and it finishes with a letter that rhymes with "deer".
- This term describes advancement in years or something from a previous period.
- If something isn't "newer," it falls into this category, often associated with age or history.
Spoiler Warning!
The final answers are below. Stop scrolling now if you want to solve it yourself!
Waffle Answer for January 9, 2026
Here is the final, official answer for the Waffle puzzle that was released on January 9, 2026.
Down Words:
- MACHO - Exhibiting strength or a stereotypical masculinity often to an exaggerated degree; the term is sometimes used sarcastically for someone trying to act overly tough or manly.
- DRIED - Having had all or most of the water removed, thus becoming dehydrated or no longer wet; often used to describe food preserved through the removal of moisture or clothing after being in the sun.
- EMBER - A small piece of glowing or smoldering coal or wood in a dying fire, often associated with the waning moments of warmth or the potential to reignite a flame.
Across Words:
- MIDGE - A small, two-winged fly that is often found near water or damp places, sometimes known for their bothersome swarms or biting behavior.
- CLIMB - To move or go up something using the feet and often the hands, whether it's scaling a mountain, ascending a ladder, or simply going upstairs.
- OLDER - Having lived for many years, exhibiting more age than someone or something else; often used to describe age relative to another person or object.
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