Fuel essential to boiler

Latest answer — August 18, 2026

11 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

OIL is fuel, and it appears as a hidden answer in bOILer. ‘Essential to boiler’ points to the consecutive central letters of the word.

Clue type:
Definition
Boiler being heated using fuel oil

Times Quick Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, August 18, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Pleasure-seeker’s gesture rejected during robbery
  2. 5Eager, back head of government
  3. 8Doctor and I have energy
  4. 9Call back with thanks about magazine’s latest issue
  5. 11Fuel essential to boiler
  6. 12Hateful mole not usually keeping promises
  7. 13Talk’s opening line about united company
  8. 15Most of danger faced by revolutionary plot remains
  9. 18Blasphemy? Wise to suppress constant anger
  10. 19Returned answer, about time
  11. 20Flexible, finally breaking ice, relaxed
  12. 21Praise former partner joining group in retirement
  13. 22Cover over pool
  14. 23Warm argument consuming hour in airport

Down

  1. 1Endlessly nasty time in retreat
  2. 2Training day runs badly
  3. 3Want top line altered in embroidery
  4. 4Alternate view observed
  5. 6Fascination left in good affair
  6. 7Expression of surprise over wings of some birds
  7. 10Accomplishment, working in the cave around empty mine
  8. 14Old king wanting one area of fruit trees
  9. 16Bird’s down
  10. 17Save reminder, following resolution
  11. 18Wonderful son in good health
  12. 19Penetrate part of alien territory

The answer to “Fuel essential to boiler” in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword is OIL — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on August 18, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 11-Across. 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.

“Fuel essential to boiler” answer

OIL (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 OIL.

What does OIL mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of OIL is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a viscous liquid derived from petroleum, especially for use as a fuel or lubricant
  • oil paint
  • information or facts

When else has “Fuel essential to boiler” appeared?

The Times Quick Cryptic 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 18, 2026 (most recent) → OIL. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Fuel essential to boiler”?

The answer is OIL, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on August 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Fuel essential to boiler”?

3 letters: OIL.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on August 18, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 11-Across.

Can “Fuel essential to boiler” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times Quick Cryptic 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 Times Quick Cryptic answers?

The full grid for August 18, 2026 is on the Times Quick Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Times Quick Cryptic Crossword is published by The Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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