Depressing directive to cut back on applause (9)
I believe the answer is:
cheerless
'depressing directive' is the definition.
'cheerless' can be an answer for 'depressing' (thesaurus). I am unsure of the 'directive' bit.
'cut back on applause' is the wordplay.
'cut back' becomes 'less' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'applause' becomes 'cheer'.
'less' put after 'cheer' is 'CHEERLESS'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cheerless that I've seen before include "Bleak" , "not hip?" , "Dreary" , "Miserable" , "Gloomy, depressing" .)