| TACTLESS | No apt description of the good diplomat (8) |
| TACT | Quality of a good diplomat |
| TACTFUL | Like a good diplomat |
| WHOVILLE | Town targeted by the Grinch, and an apt description of the ends of the answers to the starred clues? |
| SWINGSET | Playground fixture, or an apt description of the beginnings of the starred clues |
| TONEDOWN | Make milder, or an apt description of the ends of the starred answers |
| KIDFRIENDLY | Suitable for the whole family, or an apt description of the first words of the answers to the starre |
| DREAMSHAKE | Signature post move of Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon ... or an apt description of the circled letters in the grid? |
| ALAMODE | Fashionable, or an apt description of the ends of the answers to the starred clues |
| TIGHTENDS | Football linemen, or an apt description of the last words of the answers to starred clues |
| WHATABOUTISM | Rhetorical strategy of countering an accusation with another accusation, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| COMEONDOWN | "The Price Is Right" signature phrase, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| COOLWEATHER | Feature of early spring and late fall, or an apt description of the answers to the starred clues? |
| BUILDUP | Create high expectations for, or an apt description of the first part of the answer to each starred clue |
| FOODCHAIN | Apt description of the sequence suggested by the answers to starred clues? |
| SHOWSUP | Arrives, and an apt description of the sets of circled letters |
| DOUBLEPLAY | Exciting inning ender, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| NOEL | Holiday song, and, phonetically, an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| IMDOWN | "Count me in!," or an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| MONSTERMASH | Novelty song (and #1 hit) with the lyric "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?" ... and an apt description of the puzzle's theme |
