| 100% | YEAROFTHEMONKEY | 15 | 2004 or 2016 |
| 60% | LETMELOVEYOU | 12 | 2016 top 10 hit for DJ Snake, or a 2004 top 10 hit for Mario: 4 wds. |
| 55% | YEAROFTHEMONKEY | 15 | 2016 or 2028 |
| 54% | LEAP | 4 | ___ year (2012 or 2016, for example) |
| 49% | HAMM | 4 | 2004 Olympics gymnastics star Paul or Morgan |
| 46% | CHANGE | 6 | 2016 J. Cole song, or a word meaning "alter" |
| 46% | REMAKE | 6 | 2016's The Magnificent Seven or 2019's Aladdin |
| 46% | LEAPYEAR | 8 | Like 2012, 2016, or 2020: 2 wds. |
| 42% | MEANGIRL | 8 | Rachel McAdams or Amanda Seyfried role in a 2004 comedy |
| 42% | FAD | 3 | Pokemon Go in 2016 or Wordle in 2022, e.g. |
| 41% | RESCUEME | 8 | 2004-2011 Denis Leary drama, or a 1965 Fontella Bass hit: 2 wds. |
| 41% | ALFIE | 5 | Role for Michael Caine in 1966 or Jude Law in 2004 |
| 39% | WORK | 4 | Rihanna hit on Billboard's 2016 year-end Hot 100 ... or labor |
| 38% | HELL | 4 | "___ or High Water" (2016 movie) |
| 38% | SORRY | 5 | Justin Bieber hit on Billboard's 2016 year-end Hot 100 ... or apologetic |
| 37% | AROD | 4 | 2004-2016 Yankees infielder, to fans: Hyph. |
| 37% | MILLION | 7 | With 49-Across, 2004 Clint Eastwood film, or a 2024 song by Tommy Richman |
| 37% | ROSES | 5 | Chainsmokers hit on Billboard's 2016 year-end Hot 100 ... or flowers with thorns |
| 37% | FOCUS | 5 | Pay very close attention, or a 2016 R&B hit by H.E.R. |
| 36% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 36% | MUSICOLOGY | 10 | 2004 top-5 album by Prince (1958-2016) |
| 35% | KUNG | 4 | "___ Fu Hustle," 2004 martial arts film based on styles also known as Wushu or Quanfa |
| 35% | HERE | 4 | Alessia Cara hit on Billboard's 2016 year-end Hot 100 ... or in this place |
| 35% | HEATHENS | 8 | Twenty One Pilots hit on Billboard's 2016 year-end Hot 100 ... or religious nonbelievers |
| 34% | PANDA | 5 | Desiigner hit on Billboard's 2016 year-end Hot 100 ... or a black-and-white bear |
| 33% | CHARLESOSGOOD | 13 | 2004 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism honoree who hosted 44-Across from 1994 to 2016 (2 wds.) |
| 33% | GOOSEBUMPS | 10 | 2016 hit song by Travis Scott ... or the hair-rising skin bumps one gets when it's very cold |
| 33% | WORDOFCHOICE | 12 | Or |
| 33% | ELSE | 4 | Or ___ |
| 33% | ELSE | 4 | Or __! |