| 100% | THEFIRSTLETTERS | 15 | Including 38-, 41- and 60-Across, a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 59% | BED | 3 | With 66-Across, cover of sorts, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 56% | CARTALK | 7 | NPR show from 1977 to 2021, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 56% | ICEBREAKER | 10 | Get-to-know-you game, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 54% | INONESENSE | 10 | Description of this puzzle's circled letters, and a clue to what they spell |
| 53% | LIVINGONTHEEDGE | 15 | Taking risks, or, in another sense, a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 53% | SERVICEANIMAL | 13 | Nonhuman helper, and a description of this puzzle's mascots? |
| 52% | ANDTHATSFINAL | 13 | "End of discussion!" (or a description of this puzzle's theme) |
| 51% | EEES | 4 | Some shoes ... and a feature of this puzzle's theme |
| 50% | ITHASITSUPSANDDOWNS | 19 | "There are positives as well as negatives" ... or a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 50% | STEMCELLS | 9 | Subject of some medical research … or a description of this puzzle's theme? |
| 50% | ABOUTFACE | 9 | Complete 180, or a terse description of this puzzle's theme |
| 48% | ROCKSET | 7 | Description of this puzzle's theme answers, sounding like "The Look" singers? |
| 48% | HELLBENT | 8 | Totally determined, and a literal description of this puzzle's circled letters |
| 48% | AGEDIFFERENCE | 13 | 83, for the creators of this puzzle ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 25-, 51- and 60-Across |
| 48% | BUBBLETEA | 9 | Beverage mixed with tapioca pearls ... or a description of this puzzle's circled letters? |
| 46% | TWINFALLS | 9 | City of southern Idaho, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 46% | BLACK | 5 | With 41- and 43-Across, cop cruiser ... or a description of the five animals named in this puzzle |
| 46% | TREERINGS | 9 | Indicators of age ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 46% | BIRD | 4 | With 41-Across, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 46% | COLDOPEN | 8 | Certain TV intro ... or a description of each of 12 letters in the grid (the starts of six Across entries and then six Down entries) that spell out an alternate title for this puzzle |
| 45% | HARDEDGED | 9 | Gritty ... and a description of this puzzle, which is also a hint to completing eight answers |
| 45% | IBEFOREE | 8 | Part of a spelling rule, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | PITCHATENT | 10 | Prepare for a night out, and an explanation of this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | ODETOJOY | 8 | Work incorporated in 33-Across ... or a description of this puzzle? |
| 44% | LANGUAGEBARRIER | 15 | Tourist's concern, and a description of four of this puzzle's black squares |
| 44% | KITTENONTHEKEYS | 15 | Novelty piano piece of 1921 ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 44% | OVERLOADED | 10 | Carrying way too much, and a punny description of four Across answers in this puzzle |
| 44% | MOVINGVAN | 9 | Relocation aid, and a description of its progress through this puzzle |
| 43% | BETWEEN | 7 | With 39-Across, a description of the answers inside 17-, 24-, 49- and 60-Across |