| 100% | CARTALK | 7 | NPR show from 1977 to 2021, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 53% | INONESENSE | 10 | Description of this puzzle's circled letters, and a clue to what they spell |
| 52% | ICEBREAKER | 10 | Get-to-know-you game, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 50% | HARDEDGED | 9 | Gritty ... and a description of this puzzle, which is also a hint to completing eight answers |
| 50% | SERVICEANIMAL | 13 | Nonhuman helper, and a description of this puzzle's mascots? |
| 50% | BED | 3 | With 66-Across, cover of sorts, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | THEFIRSTLETTERS | 15 | Including 38-, 41- and 60-Across, a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | EEES | 4 | Some shoes ... and a feature of this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | LIVINGONTHEEDGE | 15 | Taking risks, or, in another sense, a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | ANDTHATSFINAL | 13 | "End of discussion!" (or a description of this puzzle's theme) |
| 44% | TREERINGS | 9 | Indicators of age ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 43% | LANGUAGEBARRIER | 15 | Tourist's concern, and a description of four of this puzzle's black squares |
| 43% | TWINFALLS | 9 | City of southern Idaho, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 43% | ITHASITSUPSANDDOWNS | 19 | "There are positives as well as negatives" ... or a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 43% | IBEFOREE | 8 | Part of a spelling rule, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 42% | ABOUTFACE | 9 | Complete 180, or a terse description of this puzzle's theme |
| 42% | MOVINGVAN | 9 | Relocation aid, and a description of its progress through this puzzle |
| 42% | ITSONTHEHOUSE | 13 | "No charge," and a description of five places in this puzzle |
| 42% | HQS | 3 | Command ctrs., and a description of five answers in this puzzle |
| 42% | STEMCELLS | 9 | Subject of some medical research … or a description of this puzzle's theme? |
| 42% | WINBYANOSE | 10 | Edge out, and a description of what appears four places in this puzzle |
| 41% | TUESDAY | 7 | Part of a calendar septet, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 41% | ROCKSET | 7 | Description of this puzzle's theme answers, sounding like "The Look" singers? |
| 41% | AGELESS | 7 | Eternal, and a hint to this puzzle's phonetic theme |
| 41% | KITTENONTHEKEYS | 15 | Novelty piano piece of 1921 ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 41% | PITCHATENT | 10 | Prepare for a night out, and an explanation of this puzzle's theme |
| 41% | HELLBENT | 8 | Totally determined, and a literal description of this puzzle's circled letters |
| 41% | BUTTERFLY | 9 | Image formed by connecting this puzzle's circled letters from A to N and then back to A |
| 41% | THINKQUICKLY | 12 | To understand this puzzle's theme, read the ends of the answers to the starred clues and ... |
| 41% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | Oscar-nominated film about NASA mathematicians, and a description of the countdown found in this puzzle? |