| 100% | ALDENTE | 7 | "To the tooth" or firm to the bite for pasta |
| 62% | ALDENTE | 7 | Pasta that is cooked to be firm to the bite |
| 61% | ALDENTE | 7 | Italian term for cooked firm to the bite |
| 59% | ALDENTE | 7 | Pasta that is cooked just enough to be firm to the bite: 2 wds. |
| 46% | RAP | 3 | "___ or Go to the League," 2019 hit album for 2 Chainz |
| 46% | NORM | 4 | To be expected, or par for the course |
| 46% | MEALTIME | 8 | The moment to sit down for dinner or tea |
| 44% | RING | 4 | Jewelry for the finger or to "call up" someone |
| 44% | PREP | 4 | To get ready or lay the groundwork for something, for short. Abbr |
| 43% | PETDOOR | 7 | Passage to the yard for a dog or cat (2 wds.) |
| 43% | POWER | 5 | Super-strength or the ability to fly, for Superman |
| 43% | FERTILIZE | 9 | To make soil or land rich and ready for growing crops by adding the right substances to it |
| 43% | ALDENTE | 7 | Italian for "to the tooth" |
| 42% | SHOES | 5 | High heels or spikes you'd take to the cobbler for repairs |
| 42% | ELUDE | 5 | The murderer managed to ___ police for years (avoid or dodge) |
| 42% | POCKETS | 7 | Keeps for oneself ... or features of the answers to all the starred clues |
| 42% | TRITE | 5 | Banal, or a three-part hint for the answers to the starred clues |
| 42% | GRAVEYARDSHIFT | 14 | Late night for a working stiff ... or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 42% | BUMPERCROPS | 11 | Bountiful harvests for farmers … or another hint to the crossings of shaded squares |
| 42% | GROWINGPAINS | 12 | Early struggles for a new enterprise … or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 41% | ABOIL | 5 | Ready for the pasta to be put in, perhaps |
| 41% | LAUGHINGOUTLOUD | 15 | Bit of textspeak, unshortened ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 27- and 49-Across |
| 41% | DONTTAKETHEBAIT | 15 | Warning for easily provoked types ... or for the answers to the six starred clues? |
| 41% | RAFTERS | 7 | Ceiling beams, or a three-word hint for the answers to the starred clues |
| 41% | BUTTONS | 7 | Song by The Pussycat Dolls or things to use for a snowman's eyes |
| 41% | DIF | 3 | "Not the same," for short (also, a starting to "-fuse" or "-ference") |
| 41% | POLLICAL | 8 | To do with or relating to the thumb |
| 41% | DEARJOHNLETTERS | 15 | Things used for dumping ... or a literal hint to the answers to the starred clues? |
| 41% | CHRISTIANROCK | 13 | Bible camp genre, or what the answers to the starred clues could be mistaken for? |
| 41% | OXTAILS | 7 | Animal parts used for stews, or what the answers to the starred clues all have |