| 100% | ELAM | 4 | Ancient Middle Eastern civilization (anagram of "male") |
| 45% | FALAFEL | 7 | Middle Eastern dish of mashed chickpea fritters |
| 45% | UAE | 3 | Middle Eastern land of seven sheikhdoms: Abbr. |
| 45% | YEMEN | 5 | Middle Eastern country with capital of Sana |
| 45% | SYRIA | 5 | Middle Eastern country with capital of Damascus |
| 44% | AMMAN | 5 | Middle Eastern home of the Hand of Hercules |
| 44% | FATTOUSH | 8 | Middle Eastern salad of pita bread and greens |
| 44% | HARISSA | 7 | Middle Eastern paste of dried tomatoes and peppers |
| 44% | YEMEN | 5 | Middle Eastern country that's west of Oman |
| 43% | IRAN | 4 | Middle Eastern country where most of "Argo" takes place |
| 43% | IRAN | 4 | Middle Eastern country where most of "Argo" took place |
| 43% | IRAN | 4 | Middle Eastern country where much of "Argo" was set |
| 43% | IRAN | 4 | Middle Eastern nation where much of "Argo" was set |
| 43% | TEHRAN | 6 | Middle Eastern site of women's protests in 2022 |
| 43% | EMIL | 4 | Anagram of lime, which is also a male name |
| 43% | MAYA | 4 | Ancient civilization of southern Mexico |
| 43% | MINOAN | 6 | Of an ancient Cretan civilization |
| 42% | ARABIAN | 7 | With 44-Across, Middle Eastern body of water |
| 42% | RUINS | 5 | Remains of ancient civilizations |
| 42% | ADEN | 4 | Middle Eastern port with its harbor in an ancient volcano crater |
| 41% | IRAN | 4 | Middle Eastern country where most of the film "Argo" was set |
| 41% | BAKLAVA | 7 | A Middle Eastern dessert of filo, nuts and honey |
| 41% | SUMAC | 5 | Tangy red-colored spice that is used in the Middle Eastern spice mix za'atar (anagram of "musca") |
| 41% | YUCATAN | 7 | Seat of ancient Mayan civilization |
| 41% | VELZNA | 6 | Capital of Ancient Etruscan civilization |
| 41% | IRANI | 5 | Of a Middle Eastern country |
| 41% | HALVA | 5 | Middle Eastern sweet made of crushed sesame seeds and honey |
| 41% | BELLY | 5 | ___ dancing, Middle Eastern dance form with lots of hip movements |
| 40% | HUN | 3 | Ancient dweller of Central Asia and Eastern Europe |
| 40% | COLOSSEUM | 9 | Ancient Roman stadium in the middle of Rome |