| 100% | SMARTSET | 8 | "The attendees were a ___ of students who I had fun interacting with." (clever bunch): 2 wds. |
| 45% | SAMSMITH | 8 | "Stay With Me" singer who was a first-time Grammy nominee for Record of the Year (and won): 2 wds. |
| 40% | DROPOUT | 7 | A student who has abandoned conventional course of study: 2 wds. |
| 40% | NOELFIELDING | 12 | Comedian/actor who has been a co-presenter of "The Great British Bake Off" with 40-Across since 2017 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | ORLANDOBLOOM | 12 | "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor who has been a UN Goodwill Ambassador for children: 2 wds. |
| 39% | DOMBEYANDSON | 12 | Novel by Charles Dickens that deals with the story of a shipping firm owner who is frustrated at not having a son to take care of the business: 3 wds. |
| 39% | PETESEEGER | 10 | "If I Had a Hammer" folk singer who received the Woody Guthrie Prize in 2014: 2 wds. |
| 38% | MAGICJOHNSON | 12 | A former Basketball player who was part of "The Dream Team," who spent his entire career with the L.A Lakers: 2 wds. |
| 38% | WILLSMITH | 9 | "I Am Legend" star who (together with his wife Jada) owns a minority share of the Philadelphia 76ers: 2 wds. |
| 38% | MATTHASSELBECK | 14 | Quarterback who was a starter with the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 at age 40: 2 wds. |
| 38% | BRETTFAVRE | 10 | Quarterback who was a starter with the Minnesota Vikings in 2010 at age 41: 2 wds. |
| 37% | JEFFBECK | 8 | 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who was a guitarist with the Yardbirds: 2 wds. |
| 37% | EZRAMILLER | 10 | "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" actor, who plays The Flash in 31-Across: 2 wds. |
| 37% | NICKYHILTON | 11 | Socialite who now has two daughters under the age of 2 with husband James Rothschild: 2 wds. |
| 37% | DOUGFLUTIE | 10 | Quarterback who was a starter with the San Diego Chargers in 2005 at age 42: 2 wds. |
| 36% | LUCILLEBALL | 11 | Early TV comedian who was a charter inductee into the Television Hall of Fame: 2 wds. |
| 36% | SEVENDAYSINMAY | 14 | 1964 film with Ava Gardner as the former mistress of a general who is plotting to oust the president: 4 wds. |
| 36% | VICTORIAARLEN | 13 | ESPN host and Paralympic swimmer who was a semifinalist on season 25 of "Dancing with the Stars" (2 wds.) |
| 36% | FRANKIEMUNIZ | 12 | "Malcolm in the Middle" actor who was a finalist on season 25 of "Dancing with the Stars" (2 wds.) |
| 35% | JOELCOEN | 8 | "Fargo" director who is a part of the filmmaking duo behind other movies like "True Grit": 2 wds. |
| 35% | PAULMCCARTNEY | 13 | "Yesterday" lyricist who is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 2 wds. |
| 35% | CLINTEASTWOOD | 13 | "Trouble With the Curve" actor who is a licensed pilot: 2 wds. |
| 35% | BUTAT | 5 | "She was a normal girl, ___ the stroke of midnight... ": 2 wds. |
| 35% | MEDGAREVERS | 11 | Civil rights activist who was a posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024: 2 wds. |
| 35% | RICHARDDAWSON | 13 | "Family Feud" host who was a regular panelist on the 1970s version of "Match Game": 2 wds. |
| 35% | GRAHAMBELL | 10 | Inventor of the telephone Alexander, who had a love-hate relationship with mathematics: 2 wds. |
| 35% | BOBBYRYDELL | 11 | "Volare" singer who was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020 (2 wds.) |
| 35% | BUDDYHOLLY | 10 | "Peggy Sue" singer who was a charter inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 2 wds. |
| 34% | MINDYKALING | 11 | "The Office" actress who was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 34% | GARTHBROOKS | 11 | "That Girl Is a Cowboy" singer who won the 2019 CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year (2 wds.) |