| 100% | TRIALBYFIRE | 11 | Pressure-filled ordeal, and a description of the juxtaposed circled words on the left side of the puzzle |
| 75% | SELLBYDATES | 11 | Labels on grocery store products, and a description of the juxtaposed circled words on the right side of the puzzle |
| 58% | TAKEBYSTORM | 11 | Rapidly achieve success in, and a description of the juxtaposed circled words at the top of the puzzle |
| 44% | FOOTBRIDGES | 11 | Pedestrians' spans, and a description of the circled words |
| 41% | CHANGINGTABLES | 14 | Furniture for new parents ... and a literal description of the circled squares (look on top of them to find this puzzle's six-letter meta answer) |
| 39% | IDIOM | 5 | Figure of speech ... and a synonym of the puzzle's alternate title, spelled left to right in the circled squares |
| 39% | APORT | 5 | On the left side of a ship |
| 38% | TAB | 3 | Key on the left side of a keyboard |
| 38% | OPENERS | 7 | Season ___ (annual kickoffs ... or the circles on the left side of the grid) |
| 38% | OPEN | 4 | Word on the other side of a store's "Closed" sign |
| 38% | LANDSLIDES | 10 | Earth movements, and a description of the circled letters |
| 38% | TAB | 3 | Key on the left side of a computer keyboard |
| 38% | SECRETSANTA | 11 | Anonymous December figure ... and a description of the circled squares? |
| 38% | WEST | 4 | Direction that's on the left side of a compass |
| 37% | APORT | 5 | On or toward the left side of a ship |
| 37% | DIAGONALPARKING | 15 | Easy way of pulling in ... and a hint to the six circled words |
| 37% | MIXEDFRUIT | 10 | Sweet snack, and a description of the first words of the starred answers |
| 37% | SPINNINGTOPS | 12 | You can make them take turns, and a description of the circled letters |
| 37% | FOURWAYSTOPS | 12 | They can make you take turns, and a description of the circled letters |
| 36% | ITSONTHEHOUSE | 13 | Words from a friendly bartender, and a description of the ends of 17-, 25-, 51- and 59-Across |
| 36% | PULL | 4 | Word on the front door of the Midvale School for the Gifted, in a famous "Far Side" cartoon |
| 36% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | Oscar-nominated film about NASA mathematicians, and a description of the countdown found in this puzzle? |
| 36% | THATSHALF | 9 | With 42-Across, encouraging words to someone making a good effort, and an apt description of this puzzle's circled letters |
| 35% | POSTITNOTES | 11 | Sticky yellow squares ... or a description of the circled letters and what they follow? |
| 35% | BACKHANDEDCOMPLIMENTS | 21 | "For a righty, you hit the ball pretty well on your left side," and others? |
| 35% | INGOD | 5 | Words to the left of the White House flag on a $20 bill |
| 34% | BLACK | 5 | With 41- and 43-Across, cop cruiser ... or a description of the five animals named in this puzzle |
| 34% | ODDSANDENDS | 11 | Miscellany ... or a description of the final words in 15-, 23-, 30-, 38- and 43-Across |
| 34% | PARALLELPARKS | 13 | Does a driving test task - or an apt description of the five circled diagonals in this puzzle |
| 34% | PARTTIMEJOB | 11 | Many a side hustle, and a description of seven of this puzzle's answers, in a way |