| 100% | INNER | 5 | __ circle: group of close advisers |
| 62% | CIRCLE | 6 | Group of close friends |
| 62% | INNERCIRCLE | 11 | Group of close associates |
| 60% | FAM | 3 | Group of close friends, in modern slang |
| 59% | RETINUES | 8 | Groups of advisers |
| 58% | TIGHTKNIT | 9 | Like a group of close friends |
| 58% | ATEAM | 5 | Group of top advisers |
| 58% | POD | 3 | Group of close friends and relatives, in 2020-speak |
| 55% | CLUSTERS | 8 | Groups of similar things all close together |
| 55% | ABU | 3 | ___-Bakr, close adviser of Muhammad |
| 54% | CLUSTERS | 8 | Groups of things or people gathered close together |
| 54% | FAM | 3 | Circle of close friends |
| 54% | COTERIE | 7 | Close circle of friends |
| 52% | TOWNSQUARES | 11 | What the six groups of circled letters represent |
| 51% | BABYBUMP | 8 | Expectant sign, and what each group of circles represents |
| 51% | TIMES | 5 | ___ Square (landmark suggested by the groups of circled letters) |
| 50% | SQUAREDANCE | 11 | Hoedown activity ... or what each group of circled letters is? |
| 50% | GOESUPANDDOWN | 13 | What each group of circled words in this puzzle does |
| 49% | CLIQUE | 6 | Exclusive circle of close friends |
| 49% | CLAN | 4 | Close-knit group of people |
| 48% | BOXCARS | 7 | Freight train components ... or a hint to each group of circled letters |
| 48% | WATER | 5 | With 68-Across, what the groups of circled letters are famous examples of |
| 47% | JUSTHAVINGABALL | 15 | Living it up ... or a hint to the six groups of circled letters |
| 47% | THELEANINGTOWER | 15 | Noted Italian campanile that hints at each group of circled letters in this puzzle |
| 45% | COE | 3 | Jonathan —, author of novels The Rotters' Club and The Closed Circle |
| 45% | CLIQUES | 7 | Close-knit, unwelcoming groups of people |
| 45% | COTERIE | 7 | ___ of friends (close circle) |
| 44% | FRINGEELEMENTS | 14 | Radical members of a group, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 43% | STRINGQUARTET | 13 | Classical music group ... or what the four sets of circled letters make up? |