Decryption need
Editorially verified for the Aug 19, 2026
63 Down
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Clue explained
A key is needed to decrypt encoded information: it supplies the value or method that turns ciphertext back into readable text.
- Clue type:
- Definition
LA Times Crossword
This clue's Wednesday, August 19, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Decryption need” in the LA Times crossword is KEY — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 19, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 63-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.
“Decryption need” answer
KEY (3 letters)
Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is KEY.
What does KEY mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of KEY is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- a small piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, which is inserted into a lock and turned to open or close it
- each of several buttons on a panel for operating a computer, typewriter, or telephone
- a thing that provides a means of achieving or understanding something
When else has “Decryption need” appeared?
LA Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.
August 19, 2026 (most recent) → KEY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Decryption need”?
The answer is KEY, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 19, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Decryption need”?
3 letters: KEY.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the LA Times crossword on August 19, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 63-Down.
Can “Decryption need” have a different answer?
Yes — LA Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.
Where can I find the rest of this day's LA Times answers?
The full grid for August 19, 2026 is on the LA Times answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
LA Times Crossword is published by Los Angeles Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
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