| WARMACHINE | Close to finding a joint fighting force |
| SORTING | Resorting to finding a way of classifying it (7) |
| GIOTTO | I got round to finding a painter |
| HOTONTHETRAIL | Very close to finding something trendy to switch for scout to find on track (3,2,3,5) |
| HOTDOG | Very close to finding pet a snack |
| WARMONGER | Hawk is close to finding headless fish (9) |
| HOTDOGGER | Surfer very close to finding sandbank |
| ZEROINON | Be close to finding love, one refusal the end for man |
| HOTTIE | Bond girl, typically, close to finding Bond |
| SWARM | Leader of seminary close to finding flock (5) |
| DROOG | GP, possibly with pair of spectacles, close to finding Anthony's hood |
| DYKESWARM | Vacant dolly bird in film close to finding what's hidden geological feature |
| WARM | It's hot you say? When someone's close to finding hiding-and-go-seek champion! (4) |
| MONOGRAM | Clothing embroidery, maybe, and a hint to finding the "insiders" in the answers to starred clues |
| PASTIME | I'm a pest when it comes to finding something to do (7) |
| FOURSQUARE | Kids' ball game played on a court ... or a hint to finding the second key letter in this puzzle |
| CLINK | Sound of touching glasses in a toast (and a hint to finding the contest answer) |
| CORNERSTORE | Neighborhood business, or a hint to finding the contest answer |
| TALENT | I have this gift thanks to finding time to fast (6) |
| DORY | Finding ___ (2016 sequel to Finding Nemo) |
