| FORMALWEAR | Puzzle theme, in a warped sort of way |
| PET | This puzzle's theme, in a way |
| JOEMONTANA | Quarterback on the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, and a hint to puzzle theme in last words of 17-, 27- a |
| ROLLCALL | Attendance check, and a hint to the puzzle theme in the first words of the starred answers |
| LOVEISALLAROUND | 1968 Troggs Top 10 hit, and a hint to the hidden puzzle theme in the answers to starred clues |
| JEALOUSY | Description of the state of feeling angered by rivalry, a recurring theme in a series of paintings by Edvard Munch (8) |
| SUBTEXT | Underlying theme in a piece of writing (7) |
| MOTIF | Theme in a work of art |
| ONESICKPUPPY | Person with a warped mind, in slang |
| LSATS | Exams for students potentially most interested in this puzzle's theme, in brief |
| MENSNAMES | This puzzle's theme, in part |
| WHAT | Key to this puzzle's theme, in English |
| KEYNOTE | Principal theme in a speech |
| LEITMOTIV | Recurring theme in a play, opera, etc (variant spelling) (9) |
| PLOT | Devious plan; or main theme in a story (4) |
| AHEADOFONESTIME | Innovative seafood theme in a cocktail (5,2,4,4) |
| THATISSICK | "You really have a warped mind!" |
| WARANDPEACE | Epic story about a warped cane (3,3,5) |
| TWISTED | Oliver, perhaps, journalist with a warped look? (7) |
| BENT | Like a warped iron bar |
