| 100% | DESTINY | 7 | "A tyrant's authority for crime and a fool's excuse for failure," per Ambrose Bierce |
| 30% | ALIBI | 5 | Excuse for a crime |
| 29% | LIFEISVERYSHORT | 15 | Why "there's no time for fussing and fighting," per a Beatles hit |
| 27% | HATRED | 6 | "A sentiment appropriate to the occasion of another's superiority," per Ambrose Bierce |
| 27% | PIANO | 5 | A parlor utensil for subduing the impenitent visitor: Ambrose Bierce |
| 27% | LOVE | 4 | "A temporary insanity," per Ambrose Bierce |
| 26% | ALIBI | 5 | A suspect's excuse for not being responsible |
| 25% | ROMANTASY | 9 | Portmanteau for a “genre of swords and soulmates,” per the Guardian |
| 25% | CAULDRON | 8 | A witch's pot for making potions and spells |
| 25% | FAILINGCABINET | 14 | Excuse for a presidency's shortcomings? (A+) |
| 24% | GEARS | 5 | A car's drive, park and neutral, for example |
| 24% | MLB | 3 | Org. for O's and A's |
| 24% | HAILSATAN | 9 | 2019 documentary about a nontheistic religious organization that's "putting up a hell of a fight" for justice and equality, per the film's tagline |
| 24% | BORE | 4 | "A person who talks when you wish him to listen," per Ambrose Bierce |
| 24% | INAGES | 6 | For forever and a day |
| 24% | WAGON | 5 | Children's toy with wheels and a handle for pulling |
| 24% | STAGEDOOR | 9 | Entryway for a play’s cast and crew |
| 24% | PIANO | 5 | "A parlor utensil for subduing the impenitent visitor": Ambrose Bierce |
| 23% | ESPYAWARDS | 10 | Honors for athletes, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 23% | ALONE | 5 | "In bad company," per Ambrose Bierce |
| 23% | BINNACLE | 8 | Support and mount for a ship's compass |
| 23% | SPA | 3 | A place people go for massages and treatments |
| 23% | LONGARMOFTHELAW | 15 | Metaphor for the legal system that implies a criminal cannot hide or escape from that system's vast resources and unparalleled authority [67-Across: Police jurisdiction] |
| 23% | TANDEM | 6 | Bike for you and a sweetie |
| 23% | BED | 3 | Place for pillows and a blanket |
| 23% | TOESPACERS | 10 | A podiatrist might recommend them for crowding, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 23% | LATEPASS | 8 | Excuse for a teacher |
| 23% | IFORGOT | 7 | Excuse for a lapse |
| 23% | ALIBI | 5 | Excuse for a suspect |
| 23% | TOOTHEXTRACTIONS | 16 | AND A FOR A |