| BASKETCASE | Extremely stressed person, or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| BLOWOFFSTEAM | What a stressed person may do on vacation |
| ONESELF | Slipping back a little ruffles enormously stressed person (7) |
| WAROFNERVES | Tense, stressed person (3,2,6) |
| BILL | A written statement, such as that attesting to the health of a person or a ship's company; a chit, invoice or tab; a banknote; a beak; or, a poster (4) |
| URN | A jar for the ashes of a person or a burnt cricket bail, for example; a pitcher; an ancient cista for voting-tablets, hence today's ballot box; a footed vase or sculpture; a tea vat with a tap; or, po |
| CROW | Short word for a bar of iron with a beak-like end; the triumphant caw of a cockerel; the joyful cry of a baby or of a boastful person; or, a small raven-like bird with a raucous call (4) |
| MORSEL | Word, from Old French for "to bite", for a mouthful or choice scrap of food; a dainty; a small child or person; or, a modicum generally (6) |
| CLODHOPPER | Informal word for a large heavy boot or shoe; a country bumpkin, peasant, pleb or yokel; an awkward, clumsy or foolish person; or, a wheatear (10) |
| CRABSTICK | A cane or cudgel of wild apple tree wood; a bad-tempered or sour person; or, a coral-coloured baton of compressed surimi as a snack (4,5) |
| HAWK | A predatory accipiter, such as a harrier; an eagle-eyed, preying or rapacious person; or, a warmonger, as opposed to a peaceful "dove" (4) |
| FORTE | Italian for "loud, strong", thus for a loud musical passage; or, a strong point of a person or a sword (5) |
| WRITEOFF | Term for a cancellation of a bad debt; a car damaged beyond repair, thus accepted as a total loss; an ineffectual person; or, a worthless thing (5-3) |
| ETHIC | A set of principles particular to a person or a group (5) |
| SPARK | Word for a tiny particle of fire; a flash of light; a bright sprightly person; or, a flicker of emotion (5) |
| CRAB | A sideways-walking snapping crustacean, synonymous with "perverse, wayward"; a sour wild apple; a cantankerous snappy person; or, a mechanical claw (4) |
| CULTS | Systems of religious worship to a person or a thing expressed in rituals |
| STATE | Claim / the existing condition or position of a person or a thing |
| SAGE | A shade of greyish-green; a wise person; or, a herb (4) |
| BEAST | Be a good person or a most unpleasant person (5) |
