Spectator # 2468

[Matakari]

Good day, all! This post may not have been seen on the last thread, so I'm reposting it. And thanks in advance for the help! Almost there now! Did not get a HINT for this one for which I now have:

25(D) Tests vacuous petitions — they’re thin (7):?I?S?ES

[JJ109]

It looks like the answer should be "Kleenex" but I can't parse the "I"

[donny48]

JJ109, Eighteen clues contain deficient wordplay, the missing elements of which, when highlighted, confirm the theme.

[JJ109]

Thanks Donny, so I probably am right!

[Neveracrossword]

JJ, yes. Vacuous = the usual 'empty a word', with a four-letter 'petitions' inside, with your I being thematic.

Glad we finished this one!

[Neveracrossword]

PS, the parsing was really for Matakari, not the helpful ABers!

[Matakari]

Thanks to you, Donny48, JJ109 and Neveracrossword, I got through the tissue of lies in the wordplay and cleaned this one up. Back to Genesis and the theme is quite clear! Have a great week-end!

[Neveracrossword]

I'm glad we helped you with that last pesky answer, Matakari.