| READTHERIOTACT | Give a severe warning (4,3,4,3) |
| READTHE | and 3: Give a severe warning that something has to stop a dictator there abroad (4,3,4,3) |
| READSTHERIOTACT | Chatterers do it - a problem, so gives a severe warning (5,3,4,3) |
| RIOTACT | This is read for a severe warning |
| ACT | Read the riot ___ (issue a severe warning) |
| FEARFUL | Awful fellow you give a severe scolding to (7) |
| HAULOVERTHECOALS | Give a severe telling off (4,4,3,5) |
| STERNFOREMOST | Severe warning before test receives son's backing |
| REDALERT | Severe warning |
| DOUBLEBARFINCH | Bird with a severe drinking problem? |
| FORTHEHIGHJUMP | About to incur a severe reprimand (3,3,4,4) |
| THRESH | Word, from "beat seeds out of corn/grain", for a chastising flog with a whip, a fast race, a flail or writhe about, a lavish noisy party, a loud piece of rock music or a severe trounce (6) |
| NOSER | A bonk on the conk; a head-first crash/dive; a prying person; a strong headwind; or, a severe rebuff (5) |
| TEARSTRIPSOFF | Give one a severe reprimand so with a watery eye, undresses (4,6,3) |
| DIKTAT | A severe imposition usually by a victorious nation over a defeated one (6) |
| SPLINTER | A person who figuratively divides hairs in arguments; the opposite of a lumper in the world of taxonomic classification; or, a severe migraine (8) |
| REPRIMAND | It's right for a man to have pride but he can expect a severe reproof as a result of showing it |
| SNOWIER | Like a severe blizzard, compared to a mild one |
| FAMINE | A severe shortage (especially a shortage of food). |
| ASTERN | A severe course a ship might take? (6) |
