| 100% | IMONAROLL | 9 | "Things could not be going better for me!" ... or a hint to the placement of the circled letters |
| 50% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Masterpiece waiting to be found ... or a hint to the words in the circled letters |
| 49% | CHANGEDONESMIND | 15 | Decided otherwise ... or a hint to the four sets of circled letters |
| 48% | JUSTHAVINGABALL | 15 | Living it up ... or a hint to the six groups of circled letters |
| 46% | SETSSTRAIGHT | 12 | Disabuses of false notions … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 46% | HOMESTRETCH | 11 | Last leg of a race ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 46% | BREAKSCHARACTER | 15 | Can't hold back laughter while performing, say ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 46% | BREAKABLES | 10 | Fragile articles ... or a hint to the things named by the circled letters |
| 45% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 45% | AHOUSEDIVIDED | 13 | Lincoln's description of pre-Civil War America … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 45% | MIDDLEAGE | 9 | Crisis time, for some ... or a hint to each of the circled words |
| 44% | ONETWOTHREEKICK | 15 | Classic Xavier Cugat song ... or a hint to the invitation in the circled letters |
| 44% | THEPLOTTHICKENS | 15 | "Now things are getting interesting" ... or a hint to the first words of 17-, 24-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 43% | FINALSWEEK | 10 | Period for taking exams ... or a hint to the pattern shown in the last three or four letters of the asterisked answers |
| 42% | YOUDONTSAY | 10 | "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters |
| 42% | BACKORDERED | 11 | Like goods that are temporarily out of stock ... or a hint, alphabetically, to the answers to the starred clues |
| 42% | PROTEINSHAKE | 12 | Post-workout nourishment, and a hint to what can be found in each set of circled letters |
| 41% | GOFIRST | 7 | Lead off ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | WRAPPINGPAPER | 13 | Holiday purchase ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | HOPPINGMAD | 10 | Really miffed … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | FURNITUREASSEMBLY | 17 | Ikea task, and a task that can be applied to the sets of circled letters in this puzzle |
| 41% | PLANETARY | 9 | With 36-Down, astronomical rarity ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | SLICED | 6 | With 57-Across, deli offering ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | MIXTAPE | 7 | Homemade music compilation ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | CLIMATECHANGE | 13 | Environmentalist's concern ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | FINDCLOSURE | 11 | Accept and let go of something … or a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 41% | PSANDQS | 7 | Good behavior ... or a hint to two lines of letters in this puzzle |
| 41% | ROLLWITHIT | 10 | Be willing to accept whatever ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 23-, 36- and 46-Across |
| 41% | BOOBYTRAPS | 10 | Dangers for the unwary ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23- and 47-Across? |
| 41% | MANSPREADS | 10 | Crowds one's seatmates, in a way ... or a hint to the circled letters |