“Mission-critical” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.KEY is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Mission-critical”. It was last seen in the puzzle of July 8, 2025, where it runs at 56 Down 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.