| REPLY | Answer a question |
| MEW | Kitten's sound... or to run a finger along one's jawline to decline to answer a question, in slang |
| PLEDTHEFIFTH | Declined to answer a question in court |
| PASS | Don't answer a question but have exam success (4) |
| PIVOT | Not answer a question directly, as a politician might |
| IDK | Abbreviation used when one does not have the facts needed to answer a question (3) |
| EVASIVE | Like someone who answers a question with a question |
| RIDDLE | A silly question with a funny answer, like this one: What can you break without even touching it? (Answer: A promise) |
| RESPONSE | Word for an oracular answer; a verse answering a versicle; a rejoinder or reply generally; or, an emotional reaction to a stimulus (8) |
| CLAWCLIP | Alliterative updo holder whose first word is formed by C + a piece of legislation: 2 wds. (Theme answer: A body part similar to a talon is followed by a synonym for "cut shorter") |
| DEEPDIVE | Thorough exploration whose second word is a swimmer's feat when entering a pool: 2 wds. (Theme answer: A synonym for "far underground" is followed by a verb meaning "decrease suddenly") |
| ALGORITHM | A series of mathematical steps, especially in a computer program, to answer a particular problem or question (9) |
| REPLYGUY | Forum responder whose first word is formed by anagramming all but the A of "pearly": 2 wds. (Theme answer: A message on a message board is followed by a synonym for "dude") |
| CHICKPEAANXIETY | Grocery-shopping "condition" whose first word is formed by a baby bird + a small, round, green veggie: 2 wds. (Theme answer: A legume is followed by a word related to fretting) |
| KEYRING | Accessory whose first word is something that unlocks a lock: 2 wds. (Theme answer: A small speck of land is followed by a metaphor for a series of connected things) |
| ARRAIGNMENT | In law, the bringing of a person before a court to answer a criminal charge (11) |
| NAILTRIM | Pet salon offering whose first seven letters anagram to "Ritalin": 2 wds. (Theme answer: A body part similar to a talon is followed by a synonym for "cut shorter") |
| FAIRGROUNDS | Plot of land used for a carnival (Theme answer: A word similar to "equitable" is followed by a synonym for "reason") |
| UTTERCRAP | Complete nonsense whose first word becomes a cooking fat if B is added to the beginning: 2 wds. (Theme answer: A synonym for "speak" is followed by a word related to filth) |
| PULLAHEAD | Break away from other competitors: 2 wds. (Theme answer: A word seen on a door handle is followed by a synonym for "to the front.") |
