Terrible performances with no leader or rules (7)
I believe the answer is:
directs
'rules' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to thinking as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'terrible performances with no leader' is the wordplay.
'terrible' becomes 'dire' (synonyms).
'performances' becomes 'acts' (act is a kind of performance).
'with no leader' means to remove the first letter.
'acts' with its first letter removed is 'cts'.
'dire'+'cts'='DIRECTS'
'or' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for directs that I've seen before include "Manages" , "Points the way to go" , "Instructs" , "Administers" , "Controls film" .)