| DRUBBING | First of defeats causing friction, a bad one? (8) |
| TEMPER | You have a bad one? Me - I just get pert! |
| TONK | Heavily defeat, causing upset in tie |
| DULCIMER | I'm coming in sore after first of defeats - might I have been hammered? (8) |
| ANIMUS | Friction a problem in wheels (6) |
| COWBOYS | Good farm workers or bad ones? (7) |
| STEELDRUM | Determination and spirit after first of defeats - one's beaten (5,4) |
| WINDSWEPT | Cried after first of defeats interrupts victories, beaten by the weather |
| SMASHING | Last of defeats, crushing, is great (8) |
| ELECTRIC | Type of vehicle that Trump supposedly took away mandates for, causing friction with Elon Musk. (8) |
| DISUNITY | Model nudity is causing friction (8) |
| SCRATCHY | Lawyer has right to breakdown Cathy, causing friction, for the record (8) |
| ABRASIVE | Experimental variables left out, causing friction (8) |
| FACINORE | ... by deed, especially a bad one |
| NOEXCUSE | "lt is better to offer _ _ than a bad one": George Washington (2,6) |
| LIE | Postion of the golf ball when it comes to rest - a good one would be on the fairway, a bad one in the rough or in a bunker and an impossible one up a tree or in a water hazard |
| RUBBERBAND | One causing friction excluded in report of what's binding? (6,4) |
| DETEST | Feel an aversion towards international following first couple of defeats (6) |
| LOSING | ____ streak, a succession of defeats (6) |
| LOSINGSTREAK | A succession of defeats (6,6) |
