| 100% | PIEINTHESKY | 11 | *Pastry that doesn't live up to its hype? |
| 77% | PERMANENT | 9 | Salon job that doesn't live up to its name |
| 63% | BUST | 4 | One that didn't live up to the hype |
| 55% | UGLI | 4 | Fruit that lives up to its name |
| 42% | OAK | 3 | Live ___ (Southern tree that doesn't lose its leaves in fall) |
| 41% | FUZZYMATH | 9 | It doesn't add up ... except as a hint to 17-, 25-, 37- and 49-Across |
| 41% | THEPRISRIGHT | 12 | Exclamation when a product lives up to the hype? |
| 41% | HYPE | 4 | It's hard to live up to |
| 41% | LETSPARTY | 9 | "Time to live it up!" (2 wds.) |
| 39% | YEWS | 4 | Evergreens that can live up to 3,000 years |
| 39% | MPG | 3 | Stat that doesn't apply to Teslas |
| 39% | ABLE | 4 | Up to it |
| 39% | CAPABLE | 7 | Up to it |
| 39% | SLITS | 5 | Skirt features that make it easier to walk up stairs |
| 39% | CLIPON | 6 | Tie that doesn't need to be tied |
| 39% | AXIOM | 5 | Statement that doesn’t need to be proven |
| 38% | JUSTHAVINGABALL | 15 | Living it up ... or a hint to the six groups of circled letters |
| 38% | LEMONSOLE | 9 | *Fish that doesn't taste like its name suggests |
| 38% | EVERGREEN | 9 | Plant that doesn't lose its foliage in autumn |
| 38% | EMU | 3 | Large bird that can live up to 20 years |
| 38% | MPG | 3 | Efficiency stat that doesn't apply to Teslas: Abbr. |
| 38% | IRE | 3 | W. Eur. country that doesn't belong to NATO |
| 38% | AIRPLANT | 8 | Nursery purchase that doesn't need to be watered |
| 38% | MIX | 3 | Dog that doesn’t belong to a single breed |
| 38% | STATETHEOBVIOUS | 15 | *Say something that doesn't need to be said |
| 38% | PASS | 4 | "Nah, that doesn't sound like fun to me" |
| 38% | MPG | 3 | Stat that doesn't apply to E.V.s |
| 38% | WASP | 4 | Insect that doesn't die when it stings you |
| 38% | OUTTAKE | 7 | Scene that doesn't make it into the movie |
| 38% | METS | 4 | Lives up to, as expectations |