| Rating | Solver | Clue |
|---|---|---|
| BUREAUCRATS | Red-tape officials | |
| BUREAUCRAT | Red-tape official | |
| BUREAUCRACY | Red tape | |
| BUREAUCRATIC | Of red tape | |
| BUREAUCRACIES | Red tape regimes | |
| BUREAUCRATICS | Red tape regimes | |
| TAPERED | Red tape transposed and narrowed | |
| EXASPERATED | Fed up with silly red tape after ordering axes | |
| RED-TAPE | Pertaining to, or characterized by, official formality. See Red tape, under Red, a. | |