The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word HARD
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
H
A
R
D
More clues leading to the result HARD
- Fare not appropriate for soldiers?
- Demanding key allowing smooth access? Yet denying entry to soldiers?
- ‘Unsentimental’ had her dead wrong
- A third night in action's critical
- & 7 What an actor learns after having an erection: “Too bad”
- & 11 Soap’s less effective with this sort of raw hatred
- Difficult to remove top from UK’s tallest building
- Tough to inflict damage with only half the final number
- Difficult road across part of the beach
- Piece of pottery that’s not square
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "critical" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case critical = hard.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HARD mean?
HARD noun- A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.
- A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.
- Crack cocaine.
- Hard labor.
- (of material or fluid) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.
- (personal or social) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.
- Unquestionable.
- (of a road intersection) Having a comparatively larger or a ninety-degree angle.
- (of a male) Sexually aroused.
- Having muscles that are tightened as a result of intense, regular exercise.
- Plosive.
- Unvoiced
- Velarized or plain, rather than palatalized
- Having a severe property; presenting a barrier to enjoyment.
- In a physical form, not digital.
- Using a manual or physical process, not by means of a software command.
- Far, extreme.
- Of silk: not having had the natural gum boiled off.
- (manner) With much force or effort.
- (manner) With difficulty.
- So as to raise difficulties.
- (manner) Compactly.
- Near, close.