| DRESSINGDOWNS | Severe reprimands, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| DRESSESDOWN | Reprimands and scolds harshly (7,4) |
| ROCKETS | Missiles going up in the air may face severe reprimands (7) |
| SWORDPLAY | Art of fencing, and a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| FINDCLOSURE | Accept and let go of something ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| AGES | A very long time ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to the five starred clues |
| PLUMBERS | '70s covert White House intelligence group ... and, in a more conventional sense, a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| ADDSALT | Recipe direction ... and a literal hint to what you can do to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| DOWNSIZING | Cornerstone of the Konmari method, and the progression found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| TIES | Binds ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to the six starred clues |
| FALLGUY | Easy mark ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| MIXEDFRUIT | Tasty melange ... and a literal hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| MUSIC | ...a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| MOVIETRAILERS | "Coming attractions" offerings, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| PLAYMATES | Sandbox sharers ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| BUTTONDOWN | Very conventional ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to the four starred clues |
| COMMONSENSE | Practical judgment ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| BEARSDOWN | Focuses even harder ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| HEAVYMETAL | Rock genre ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| LIGHTHEADED | Dizzy ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
