| FOSTERFAIL | Animal ultimately adopted after being housed for a short time whose second word is an opposite of succeed: 2 wds. |
| CLOSEDCHAPTER | Concluded stretch of time whose second word is an anagram of "hepcat" + R: 2 wds. (Theme answer: The first word is the opposite of the first word of 16-Across, and the second word is related to litera |
| YEN | Currency adopted after the Meiji Restoration |
| ZOO | Place where wild animals are housed for exhibition (3) |
| EASYBAKE | Cooking adjective whose first word is an opposite of "difficult" and whose second word aptly rhymes with "cake": 2 wds. |
| MANUFACTURINGSECTOR | Sphere of business whose first word is a synonym of "making" and whose second word is an anagram of "escort": 2 wds. (Theme answer: The circled letters spell a type of abode, and a synonym for "call" |
| THEVIBESAREOFF | Phrase calling out an unpleasant environment whose last word is an opposite of on: 4 wds. |
| BOJACKHORSEMAN | Animated series whose first word is a synonym for "career" spelled backward + a cry of dismay and whose second word is an anagram of "menorahs": 2 wds. |
| TOUGHCROWD | Minimally reactive audience whose first word is an opposite of "easy": 2 wds. |
| MODERNGIRL | Track whose middle eight letters anagram to "ordering": 2 wds. (Theme answer: The song is an opposite of "old" + a gendered term) |
| NEWWOMAN | Track whose first five letters anagram to "we won" (Theme answer: The song is an opposite of "old" + a gendered term) |
| BLACKARTS | Creative era whose first word is a color and whose second word is an anagram of "star": 2 wds. |
| UNTIED | Released from a knot (Theme answer: When the two circled letters are swapped, the new word spelled is an opposite of the answer in the grid.) |
| XIAOLONGBAO | Dim sum order whose first word is found by taking every other letter of "expirator" and whose second word is an English synonym for "lengthy": 3 wds. |
| HOTGLUEGUN | Crafting tool whose first word is the opposite of "cold" and second word is an adhesive substance: 3 wds. |
| MARTIAL | Adjective meaning "war-related" that can come before "arts" (Theme answer: When the two circled letters are swapped, the new word spelled is an opposite of the answer in the grid.) |
| JELLYDONUT | Pastry whose second word is an anagram of "undo" + T: 2 wds. (Theme answer: This is a fruity spread + a ring-shaped item) |
| POWELL | Author of A Dance to the Music of Time whose wife Violet wrote A Jane Austen Compendium and The Life of a Provincial Lady (6) |
| JOHNSON | "Health is certainly more valuable than money, because it is by health that money is procured." This Englishman was a commentator of his time whose companion was James Boswell. Who is this? |
| WINDCHIME | Hanging percussion instrument whose second word is an anagram of the first five letters of "chemist": 2 wds. (Theme answer: The natural elements in a band name are followed by something you can hear) |
