| ASPERSION | Like something that may be first, second or third, without one negative comment (9) |
| SURMOUNTABLE | Like something that may be overcome |
| BRIEFS | Prepares item that may be first on and last off? (6) |
| BASEMAN | He may be first, second or third on the diamond |
| RATE | Can be first, second, or third |
| PRECEDENT | Trump sounds like something that must be followed (9) |
| UNTENABLE | Like something that can't be defended |
| PRICELESS | Like something that can't be bought |
| COMPLAINT | Negative comment that produces ill-feeling |
| LETTINGGO | Releasing new title, Governor General slipped in negative comment (7,2) |
| PERSONNEL | Employees, first, second or third perhaps Len upset (9) |
| INORGANIC | One negative response, caring about lacking carbon |
| SISTERS | They may be first in the services to be without sin relatively speaking (7) |
| CHEWABLE | Like something that can be ground down or cut with rope around? (8) |
| NAME | One may be first, middle or last |
| WOODWORK | Sounds like something that is possible could be nailed down (8) |
| UNSINKABLE | Like something that can't be put down, in a way |
| NEUTRINO | Particle without spin, one negative displacing a bit of lepton (8) |
| ORDINAL | It may be first spoken without much sound |
| AID | It may be first or foreign |
