“Essential ___” crossword clue
Answer
O
I
L
•••OIL
Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.OIL is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Essential ___”. It was last seen in the puzzle of January 19, 2025, where it runs at 63 Across and fills 3 squares. It crosses 3 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have. This exact clue has run 3 times in NYT puzzles, first on January 19, 2025.
Crossing entries
Jan 19, 2025 gridEvery appearance
3 puzzlesDatePuzzlePositionAnswer
Dec 21, 2025NYT Crossword113 Down••••NEEDMay 16, 2025NYT Crossword45 Across••••MUSTJan 19, 2025NYT Crossword63 Across•••OILOther answers for this clue
Across all puzzles we index•••OIL3 ltrs
••••NEED4 ltrs
••••MUST4 ltrs
•••••VITAL5 ltrs
Clues repeat across publications with different fills. If your grid needs a different length, one of these usually fits.
Back to the full Jan 19, 2025 answer list, or browse the puzzle archive.