Shell medium-sized to rather large (usually 15-30 mm, up to 85 mm high), broad-fusiform to turreted-fusiform, with high spire and usually moderately long siphonal canal. Subsutural ramp usually well developed, with very shallow to rather deep anal sinus situated on its lower part or shifted abapically, with apex at almost a peripheral position. Sculpture variously developed, from almost smooth shell surface to well-developed axial ribs and spiral cords. Protoconch only known as paucispiral, up to circa 2.5 smooth whorls. Operculum with medio-lateral nucleus. Radular formula 1-(1-R-1 )-1. The central formation is composed of very thin, broad, plate-like lateral teeth and a small, but sometimes strong, narrow rachidian. The central formation is variously developed, sometimes appearing as a pronounced tooth, sometimes clearly consisting of three elements (Clionella sinuata) to its nearly complete reduction. Marginal teeth usually duplex, with sharp-edged major limb and a deep socket where an accessory limb is inserted, often with angulation distal to the socket. In Toxiclionella the marginal teeth are hypodermic, loosely enrolled, attached along their length to radular membrane, having two barbs at the tip and a tooth canal opening subterminally.

The genus Gemmuloborsonia represents a sister group to the (Clavatulidae + Horaiclavidae) clade, but this node is not well supported. Because it resembles much more the Clavatulidae than the Horaiclavidae in terms of shell and radular characters, Gemmuloborsonia is provisionally included in the former family. If further studies support that hypothesis, then the diagnosis of the Clavatulidae should be amended to account for the presence of weak columellar pleats and multispiral Turridae-type protoconch present in Gemmuloborsonia.