Essential Crossword Clue

We have the 3-letter answer for Essential crossword clue, last seen in the Newsday Crossword September 22, 2026 puzzle. This answer will help you finish the puzzle you’re working on.

Essential Crossword Answer

↓29.

Find more clues, hints, and info below.

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VITAL

(5 letters)

PRIME

(5 letters)

MUST

(4 letters)

CRITICAL

(8 letters)

CORE

(4 letters)

NEED

(4 letters)

BASIC

(5 letters)

NECESSARY

(9 letters)

INTRINSIC

(9 letters)

INTEGRAL

(8 letters)

INNER

(5 letters)

Helpful Hints

(noun)
1. a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida
2. (basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court
(verb)
1. identify as in botany or biology, for example
2. harmonize with or adjust to
(adjective)
1. serving as an essential component

Hint 2: Clue Definition

ESSENTIAL (noun)
1. anything indispensable
ESSENTIAL (adjective)
1. of the greatest importance
2. absolutely necessary; vitally necessary

Hint 3: Other Answers Used in the Past

VITAL
(5 letters)
PRIME
(5 letters)
MUST
(4 letters)
CRITICAL
(8 letters)
CORE
(4 letters)
NEED
(4 letters)
BASIC
(5 letters)
NECESSARY
(9 letters)
INTRINSIC
(9 letters)
INTEGRAL
(8 letters)
INNER
(5 letters)

Hint 4: Anagram

Unscramble the letters below to solve for today's answer.
KYE

More WSJ Crossword (2/21/2026) Answers

Across

1. It has a string attached

7. “I know, this feels pretty overwhelming”

14. Sever

20. Joint tenant?

21. Strong and regal

22. Canine coat

23. Person who prefers sharing fellowship from across the room?

25. Club component, often

26. ___-pitch (softball variety)

27. “Beautiful Things” singer Boone

28. Tattoo parlor supply

30. Shape with a hatchet

31. Maintain

32. Knowledgeable bunch of students?

36. Clairvoyant claim

39. Heady brew

40. Apple TV sci-fi series set in a 144-level underground city

41. It has a string attached

42. Raptors, in sports tickers

43. Green shade

45. Magic show volunteer, sometimes

47. Barbecue cook’s seasonings

50. Like a giantess at her wedding?

53. Wants for nothing

57. Cluttered

58. Book part

59. Flynn of films

60. Sábado o domingo, por ejemplo

61. NFL carriers

62. Gleeful

63. Notre Dame honoree

64. The final one was produced on November 12, 2025

65. Groups of gymnasts waiting for their turns?

68. GE’s double-oven model, to KitchenAid’s?

70. Gaelic tongue

71. Ornamental succulent

72. Major name in umbrellas and rainwear

73. Lessen gradually

74. Palais resident

75. Country singer K.T.

76. Shades

77. Alternative to Parmesan

80. Added up to

82. Drinking spree by a salesman?

84. Years, in Napoli

85. Going rate?

87. Egg holder

88. Chaotic hosp. sections

89. Confident words

92. Eye part

93. Parisian possessive

94. Agent Smith calls him “Mr. Anderson”

95. Group of directors at Acme Digging Tools, Inc.?

99. Many a camp counselor

101. Spot for a heady brew

102. Like a well-crafted thriller

103. Supported charitably

105. Lenovo offerings

108. Boxer Serrano

111. Friction between members of the military?

115. Interfere

116. Like some gift tags

117. Dermatology case

118. Traps

119. Intimate

120. Veteran sailor

All Answers

Down

1. Idiosyncrasies

2. Carbon compound

3. Paintballs e.g.

4. Collision sound

5. Three men in ___

6. It may be displayed in a tree

7. Admission of defeat

8. Caruso, e.g

9. Scattered about

10. “Blonde” star de Armas

11. Tyler of "Empire Records"

12. Golfer’s “butter knife”

13. Shore fliers

14. "We should!"

15. Lennon’s love

16. Spray in the kitchen

17. Stop on Amtrak’s Chicago-to-San Francisco California Zephyr

18. Gala celebrations

19. Proceeds smoothly

24. Take stock?

32. Slander

33. Israeli carrier

34. Saint for whom an alphabet is named

35. Hooligan

36. Ides accusation

37. Presently

38. Lump, bump or hump

39. Surrounded by

40. Mammoth hunters’ weapons

44. Wire coils that produce magnetic fields

46. Greatly enjoys

48. Spa town near the Black Forest

49. Cast supporter

51. Job holder?

52. “Pippin” Tony winner Ben

54. Neighborhoods

55. Pixar film in which Jamie Foxx voiced a jazz pianist

56. Past due

59. Ready for publication

62. Dix cubed

64. Cruise assignment

65. Farmiga of “The Conjuring”

66. Kitchen come-on

67. Stand the test of time

68. Doctors make them

69. Zeroes out

72. Words before credits, often

75. Chilled

77. Ballot mailers

78. Roberts’s “Pretty Woman” co-star

79. Estimate qualifier

81. Deg. distributor

82. Turn abruptly

83. Hold a second session

86. Flatten out

90. Church features

91. Grizzlies' org.

95. Petty clashes

96. Most dangerous animal, some say

97. “What Washington needs is adult supervision” speaker

98. Unseats

99. Folded fare

100. Calendar marking

103. "Strait Is the Gate" author André

104. Formerly

105. Multicolored

106. Lake of northern Italy

107. Unexpected problem

109. “Here & Now” airer

110. Ruby in the American Theater Hall of Fame

112. D&D e.g.

113. Zone (out)

114. Grammy-winning “Snooze” singer

All Answers