JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul class="topmenulist">
    <li><a href="#" class="active">Home</a>
    </li>
    <li><a href="#" class="notactive">What we do</a>
    </li>
    <li><a href="#" class="notactive">Projects</a>
    </li>
    <li><a href="#" class="notactive">Contact</a>
    </li>
</ul>

CSS

.topmenulist li:hover a:not(.active) {
    background-color: #EAEAEA;
}