| 100% | ARTICLES | 8 | "The" and "a," for example |
| 93% | NOTES | 5 | C flat and A sharp, for example |
| 91% | NNW | 3 | Up and a little to the left, for short |
| 89% | ICK | 3 | The ___ (sudden and overwhelming disgust for a person) |
| 87% | PUN | 3 | "Herb gardeners who work extra get thyme and a half," for example |
| 87% | IDIOMS | 6 | "Toe the line" and "thumb a ride," for example: 2 wds. |
| 86% | ENCAMP | 6 | Stop for the night and pitch a tent |
| 86% | MLB | 3 | Org. for the A's and O's |
| 86% | LOGO | 4 | A tongue and lips, for the Rolling Stones |
| 86% | MUSEUMS | 7 | The Louvre and MoMA, for example |
| 86% | SANDBOXGAMES | 12 | The Sims and Minecraft, for example |
| 86% | METALBAND | 9 | Wedding ring, for example ... or a hint to 20-, 29-, and 49-Across? |
| 86% | TEASEOUT | 8 | Untangle carefully, and a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues? |
| 86% | ENDIN | 5 | Conclude with, and a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues |
| 85% | RITES | 5 | Head shaving and killing a lion, for the Masai |
| 84% | ISEE | 4 | Words of comprehension, and a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues |
| 84% | BRITS | 5 | Inventors of linoleum and the A.T.M., for example |
| 84% | FAMILYTREAT | 11 | Trip to a restaurant for the parents and the kids? |
| 84% | PHILOMENA | 9 | Dench and Coogan film about the search for a child |
| 84% | MANCAVE | 7 | Space in a home meant for dad and the boys |
| 84% | LOOMPA | 6 | Start for a "land" in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" |
| 83% | RIVALS | 6 | Batman and the Joker, for example |
| 83% | MICE | 4 | Pinky and the Brain, for example |
| 83% | HOPTOIT | 7 | "Get going!," and a hint for the starts of 17-, 24-, 51- and 62-Across |
| 83% | COLOR | 5 | Pigment or hue, and a hint for the theme words at 43a, 58a, and 42d |
| 83% | TOOTHEXTRACTIONS | 16 | AND A FOR A |
| 83% | WHO | 3 | The ___, a rock band known for hits like "My Generation" and "Pinball Wizard" |
| 83% | RHYTHM | 6 | ___ and Blues, also the word for a beat that a drummer keeps |
| 82% | YEARLING | 8 | Term for a horse between the ages of one and two |
| 82% | DABO | 4 | Olivia who won a Razzie for "Bolero" and "Conan the Destroyer" |