| 100% | TWISTTHEKNIFE | 13 | Increase someone's distress, as exemplified by the circled letters |
| 54% | TRIMMINGTHETREE | 15 | Yuletide undertaking, exemplified by the circled letters |
| 50% | ROUNDOFAPPLAUSE | 15 | Hand, as depicted by the circled letters |
| 48% | BLOOM | 5 | Sign of spring, as depicted by the circled letters |
| 48% | SUBWAYDOORS | 11 | They slide shut, as pictured by the circled letters |
| 45% | REVERSE | 7 | Certain auto gear ... as suggested by the circled letters |
| 45% | INNERCITIES | 11 | Urban areas (as hinted at by the circled letters in this puzzle's grid) |
| 44% | HIDEANDSEEK | 11 | Children's game hinted at by the circled letters |
| 43% | FILECOMPRESSION | 15 | Aid in saving disk space, as displayed by the circled letters |
| 43% | SMILEYFACE | 10 | What's formed by the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 43% | SINE | 4 | Function represented by the circled letters |
| 43% | BANANA | 6 | Fruit depicted by the circled letters |
| 43% | OFFONALARK | 10 | What's depicted by the circled letters in 41-/49-Across |
| 42% | GOLDNUGGETS | 11 | Valuable finds suggested by the circled letters |
| 42% | STORE | 5 | Corner ___ (phrase suggested by the circled letters) |
| 42% | GROWABEARD | 10 | Do the opposite of shave ... as suggested by the circled letters |
| 42% | ROLLINGSTONE | 12 | Item that gathers no moss, illustrated by the circled letters |
| 42% | CHEESEPULL | 10 | Seductive imagery in pizza ads, represented by the circled letters |
| 42% | PINOCCHIO | 9 | Disney character hinted at by the circled letters |
| 42% | SALADBOWL | 9 | Common kitchen item depicted by the circled letters |
| 42% | NEUROPLASTICITY | 15 | Brain's ability to form new connections ... as represented by the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 42% | VIBESHIFTS | 10 | Big changes in the Zeitgeist, as suggested by the circled letters in this puzzle? |
| 42% | SLIPPERY | 8 | With 68-Across, precarious situations, as suggested by the circled letters |
| 41% | SOLARECLIPSE | 12 | Astronomical phenomenon depicted by the puzzle's circled letters |
| 41% | EXERCISEROUTINE | 15 | Workout suggested by the circled letters and their orientation |
| 41% | FOOLSRUSHIN | 11 | 1940 Glenn Miller hit suggested by the circled letters |
| 41% | CELESTIALBODIES | 15 | Astronomical objects represented by the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 40% | PATHTOVICTORY | 13 | Election night calculation ... or what's traced by the circled letters |
| 40% | PUPA | 4 | Life stage originally represented by the circled letters, prior to metamorphosis |
| 40% | TWOSTEPSFORWARD | 15 | With 57-Across, metaphor for nonlinear progress depicted by the circled letters |