| NORTHDAKOTA | Tank too hard, perhaps, for a US state |
| HUTCH | Where to keep bucks, perhaps, for a US detective (5) |
| MAINE | Name I made up for a US State (5) |
| CALIFORNIUM | Element named for a US state |
| NEBRASKA | 1982 Bruce Springsteen album named for a US state (8) |
| SKIDS | Brakes too hard, perhaps |
| EMOTE | Play too hard, perhaps |
| HAMITUP | Put on an unconvincing accent or laugh way too hard, perhaps |
| SNORTS | Laughs too hard, perhaps |
| BADDOG | Canine that chews too hard, perhaps |
| TOOTLE | A frequentative onomatopoeia mimicking a soft repetitive sound of a car horn or a flute, hence a word for a casual drive, leisurely journey, meandering stroll or pleasure trip, perhaps for a jolly goo |
| RADISH | Is hard, perhaps, but edible (6) |
| ACHED | Wished one hadn't pushed so hard, perhaps |
| START | Old English "caper, fling, leap, plunge headlong", today a commencement or a sudden movement of surprise; dawn or sunrise; or, the beginning of a journey or a race, perhaps for a prize (5) |
| PLACID | Still used as a name for a US lake (6) |
| ASHE | US Open stadium named for a US Open winner |
| HEFNER | Former writer for a US Army newspaper who launched a men's magazine in 1952 (6) |
| NINE | Years of citizenship required for a us senator |
| SENATOR | Warped reason to include time for a US politician (7) |
| GI | What is the colloquial term for a US soldier? (2) |
