| SPICIEST | Having the hottest taste (8) |
| TROPICAL | In or from the hottest parts of the world (8) |
| ELAZIZIA | The hottest place on earth |
| DOGDAYS | The hottest period of the year (reckoned in antiquity from the heliacal rising of the star Sirius) |
| STOVE | Empty seat at the centre of the coven is the hottest spot in the house (5) |
| DEATHVALLEY | This California area hit 130 degrees on Aug. 16, the third-hottest temp ever recorded; it's also where the hottest-ever temp, 134 degrees, was recorded in 1913 |
| VENUS | The hottest planet and second- brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon, where a single day is around eight Earth months (5) |
| CAROLINAREAPER | The hottest chili pepper in the world according to 'Guinness World Records' (8,6) |
| SONGOFTHESUMMER | Annual title awarded by Billboard for the hottest tune of the hottest months |
| AFRICA | The hottest of the world's seven continents (6) |
| SUMMER | The hottest season of the year (6) |
| GHOSTPEPPER | Chile that's among the hottest in the world |
| SUMMERY | Akin to the hottest of the four seasons (7) |
| PLANET | "Death Valley is one of the hottest places on the ." |
| WARMEST | The western stream turns out to be the hottest (7) |
| NAGA | The '___ Viper' pepper is one of the hottest chili peppers ever measured, according to BBC Breakfast presenter Munchetty! (4) |
| GRILL | Always the hottest one at the cookout out, it consistently draws a crowd |
| SIESTA | An afternoon rest or sleep, particularly during the hottest hours of the day (6) |
| SCOTCHBONNET | The fairy-ring mushroom; the hottest variety of capsicum pepper (6,6) |
| BILLIEEILISH | Bad Guy singer who got through even the hottest sauces on the YouTube talk show Hot Ones: 2 wds. |
