| 100% | MELON | 5 | "Water" follower for a juicy, summer fruit ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 77% | COCONUT | 7 | Versatile tropical fruit that's used in Coladas ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 73% | DOME | 4 | Bowl-shaped stadium roof ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 73% | NOODLE | 6 | Ramen or pasta piece ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 73% | NOB | 3 | One of wealth and standing in Britain ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 72% | BEAN | 4 | Veggie that comes in fava and pinto varieties ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 71% | MUFFIN | 6 | Baked breakfast item that comes in blueberry and chocolate varieties ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 41% | SPACE | 5 | The "S" in NASA, and a word that can be used alongside 22a, 39a, 40a, 50a, 27d, and 29d |
| 40% | GRAPE | 5 | Fruit used to make wine, and that may be used as flavoring for a purple popsicle |
| 37% | GREEN | 5 | Word before "house" to refer to a glass building where plants are kept, and something that's not actually a house |
| 36% | DINGHY | 6 | Open boat with a mast and sails that can be used for racing |
| 36% | CORNERBARS | 10 | Local watering holes, and a hint to a word that can follow eight of this puzzle's peripheral answers |
| 35% | MAD | 3 | 2008 song by Ne-Yo whose title is also a word for being upset that's often used to describe a bull's emotions |
| 35% | PORTER | 6 | Word before "house" to refer to an establishment where steaks were served, and something that wasn't actually a house |
| 34% | ITSALONGSTORY | 13 | "We could be here for a bit...," and a hint to each circled word |
| 34% | HERO | 4 | *Person who saves the day... and a word you may use to describe those being celebrated in this puzzle |
| 34% | ASS | 3 | Word that can be used as a postpositive intensifier |
| 34% | GENIPAP | 7 | Unripe fruit found in Florida that can be used as a tattoo dye (and insect repellent!) |
| 33% | SENSEI | 6 | East Asian honorific that can be translated as "person born before another" and is now used in a similar way to "Mr." |
| 33% | BOATSWAIN | 9 | Word that can be shortened to four letters and two apostrophes |
| 33% | BUTTERFLY | 9 | Word that must be added to 1-, 8-, 65- and 66-Across for their clues to make sense [with a visual hint in the grid] |
| 33% | GATE | 4 | Entryway to a house that can be opened and closed |
| 33% | COCONUT | 7 | Tropical fruit used as a vegan milk source, and that may be used as flavoring for a white popsicle |
| 33% | ROUGH | 5 | Word before "house" to refer to a violent disturbance, and something that's not actually a house |
| 33% | BERRY | 5 | Word with "Smurf" to mean a red fruit that is a source of nutrition for the Smurfs |
| 33% | HOUSE | 5 | Place where one lives ... or a word that goes with "fly" to refer to an insect that's often found in kitchens |
| 33% | DALMATIAN | 9 | A large, spotted dog that was once used as a dog of war and even now can be seen working for firefighters |
| 32% | SWORD | 5 | Weapon used for duels and adventures on the high seas that would be a great addition to your "Pirate" Halloween costume |
| 32% | GRAPE | 5 | Fruit in a vineyard that is used to make 12a |
| 32% | POWER | 5 | Word before "house" to refer to someone who has great energy, and something that's not actually a house |