| 100% | EAR | 3 | With 44-Across, astronaut's homecoming vehicle |
| 52% | THEHATFIELDS | 12 | With 44 Across, legendary Southern feuding families |
| 52% | POLITICSIS | 10 | With 44 Across, Will Rogers on parties |
| 52% | IMMEDIATELY | 11 | Without delay, with 44 Across |
| 51% | ODD | 3 | With 44-Across, handyman's task |
| 51% | NEWSHEPARD | 10 | 44-Across suborbital launch vehicle named for an astronaut (2 wds.) |
| 50% | CEDAR | 5 | With 44-Across, Iowa’s second-largest city |
| 48% | IPROMISED | 9 | With 44-Across, rumor holder's answer to 20-Across |
| 48% | KNICKKNACK | 10 | With 44-Across, part of a children's song refrain |
| 48% | ANNE | 4 | With 44-Across, Jerry Stiller's wife and comedy partner |
| 46% | MOTOR | 5 | With 20 Across, vehicle with handlebars |
| 46% | SURVIVALOF | 10 | With 44-Across, phrase associated with 32-Across's evolutionary process: 2 wds. |
| 45% | ENTR | 4 | With 44-Across, intermission |
| 45% | ODDS | 4 | With 37- Across and 44-Down, miscellany |
| 45% | REENTRY | 7 | Astronaut's homecoming |
| 45% | OLD | 3 | With 44-Across, a veteran |
| 45% | GENE | 4 | With 44-Across, Champion rider |
| 45% | THEKICKISUP | 11 | With 44-Across, common broadcasting phrase related to this puzzle's outer circled letters |
| 45% | BOXED | 5 | With 44-Across, Valentine's Day gift ... or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 45% | SILVER | 6 | With 44-Across, bit of consolation ... or a feature of this puzzle's grid? |
| 44% | COP | 3 | With 44-Across, bargain for leniency |
| 44% | TOP | 3 | With 44-Across, Hanna-Barbera feline |
| 44% | FOOD | 4 | With 44-Across, post-meal lethargy |
| 44% | NOWOR | 5 | With 44-Across, lead single from 4-Down's "Hopeless Fountain Kingdom" album: 2 wds. |
| 44% | STER | 4 | Suffix with 44-Across |
| 43% | ONION | 5 | With 44-Across, hot sandwich go-with |
| 43% | FATS | 4 | With 44-Across, "Ain't Misbehavin" songwriter |
| 43% | AVE | 3 | With 44-Across, a traditional Catholic prayer |
| 43% | DRAWANDONE | 10 | With 44-Across, execute, in a way |
| 43% | HUGH | 4 | With 44-Across, founder of Playboy magazine |