| 100% | TENDER | 6 | Easy to cut or chew, like a good steak |
| 46% | TENDER | 6 | Like a good steak |
| 42% | CROPPED | 7 | Cut or shortened, like a photograph |
| 41% | FRIEND | 6 | "A" good pal like Woody, to Buzz Lightyear ... or with 24a, a 1971 Grammy-winning song by Carole King |
| 41% | BACKORDERED | 11 | Like goods that are temporarily out of stock ... or a hint, alphabetically, to the answers to the starred clues |
| 41% | TENDER | 6 | Easy to slice, as a steak |
| 41% | OWIE | 4 | Cut or scrape, to a tot |
| 40% | WINDY | 5 | Like a good day for someone to say "Go fly a kite!" |
| 39% | RARE | 4 | Like a blood moon or a bloody steak |
| 39% | INSURABLE | 9 | Like a car or home, to State Farm |
| 39% | TOUGH | 5 | Hard to cut, like some steak |
| 39% | WRIGGLE | 7 | To squirm or writhe, like a worm |
| 39% | BREEZE | 6 | Easy to accomplish or a short burst of wind |
| 39% | RIPE | 4 | Like a fruit that's good to be had |
| 39% | MUSTSEE | 7 | Like a film that's too good to miss |
| 39% | DELHI | 5 | Indian city that sounds like a good place to get a sandwich |
| 38% | MUSTSEE | 7 | Like a film that's too good to miss (Hyph.) |
| 38% | OWIE | 4 | Minor cut or scrape, to a little kid |
| 37% | DEER | 4 | Like a ___ in the headlights (get paralyzed due to fear or excitement) |
| 37% | OFFAIR | 6 | Like things said after cutting to a commercial |
| 37% | CARVING | 7 | Cutting wood to make a picture or toy |
| 37% | AXE | 3 | Tool used by firefighters to cut through a door or roof |
| 37% | SHEAR | 5 | To cut the wool off a sheep or alpaca |
| 37% | DONATE | 6 | To give money or goods to a charitable cause |
| 36% | SCURRY | 6 | *Dash around like a critter, or a casual way to say "hurry" |
| 36% | CARVE | 5 | Cut, like a jack-o'-lantern or a turkey |
| 36% | BEWITCHED | 9 | Under a spell or charmed to like someone |
| 36% | PLANTBASED | 10 | Like a meatless diet ... or like the answers to 3-, 7-, 10-, and 24-Down? |
| 36% | ACE | 3 | Good card to pair with a queen or king in blackjack |
| 36% | DOUBLEEDGED | 11 | Like some swords ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |