| FURNITUREASSEMBLY | Ikea task, and a task that can be applied to the sets of circled letters in this puzzle |
| COUNTINGSTARS | *2013 OneRepublic hit ... and a task that, if applied to the asterisked answers, yields five |
| SISYPHEAN | Denoting a task that can never be completed |
| WRAPSUP | Finishes, and a hint to the sets of circled letters in this puzzle |
| SHOEBOXES | Stack at Famous Footwear, and a hint to the sets of circled letters |
| HEEEEERESJOHNNY | Classic TV intro which can be applied to the starts of the four other longest puzzle answers |
| FILTER | A photographic effect that can be applied to enhance images on social media. (6) |
| ANTIPERSPIRANT | It can be applied to the skin-and no sweat (14) |
| VETO | Ban that can be applied by any permanent member of the UN Security Council |
| GLOSS | Cosmetic that can be applied with a brush |
| MAKINGAFACE | Smirking, scowling, or smiling, and what the sets of circled letters in this puzzle are doing? |
| GOESTHEDISTANCE | Finishes a task, and a hint to hidden words in this puzzle's four other longest answers |
| CHANGEENDS | Tennis umpire's order after oddnumbered games ... and a hint to the two sets of circled letters in each of eight answers |
| LEAVENED | Unlike bread on Passover, and like four of the five sets of circled letters in this puzzle |
| WIGGLEROOM | Space to maneuver, or a hint to five sets of circled letters in this puzzle |
| MADSCRAMBLE | Frantic, last-minute rush, and what can be found in each set of circled letters in this puzzle? |
| WRAPPINGGIFTS | Holiday season task, and a theme hint (Note what the first letters of the starred clues' answers spell) |
| TIMELIMITS | Fixed periods for completing tasks ... and a hint to the words found on the edges of the starred answers |
| SPINATALE | Embellish the truth, and what the sets of circled letters do? |
| NUTCRACKERS | Toys that are also tools, and a hint to the words split across the sets of asterisked clues' answers |
