| BOLSHIE | Shy, retiring and quiet -- that is difficult! (7) |
| SHIER | Comparatively bashful and quiet - that is, retiring, initially (5) |
| CASHIER | Auditor's quiet, that is nervy essentially for the bank employee (7) |
| SHIELD | Protection, quiet, that is given to Lord briefly |
| BASHFUL | Shy retiring sailor starts to flush when flustered (7) |
| DRASTIC | It's in character - retiring and harsh (7) |
| BOLLARD | Shy retiring youth carrying king's post |
| STIFFER | More than dead? That's comparatively difficult! (7) |
| PROBLEM | A matter that is difficult to deal with, solve or overcome (7) |
| DIEHARD | Day that is difficult for unyielding sort (7) |
| HANDFUL | Person, animal or task that is difficult to manage (7) |
| MYSTERY | Something that is difficult or impossible to understand (7) |
| SHYSTER | Disreputable lawyer, retiring and mostly stern |
| AWKWARD | Place to rehabilitate birds of prey? Without hospital it's difficult! (7) |
| TOUGHIE | Closed? I’m disgusted — that is difficult question |
| TONGUETWISTER | Sentence or phrase that is difficult to articulate clearly and quickly (6,7) |
| PHAEDRACOMPLEX | Ah, padre! Clue to that is difficult relationship with step-parent (7,7) |
| WILLYART | Dundonian's retiring and is going to southern tip of Orkney on craft |
| FLESHY | Plump little man is retiring and bashful |
| DIMITY | Shy, retiring - youth leader material (6) |
