| 100% | PASSFAIL | 8 | 64-Across's option for a 38-Across or a 13-, 18-, 28- or 42-Down |
| 35% | ITSTIMETOROLL | 13 | "Let's go!" ... or a hint for the ends of 20-, 28-, 41- and 52-Across |
| 35% | ALUM | 4 | 18-Across, 32-Across, or 42-Across, notably, for short |
| 34% | DRIVINGAGE | 10 | For a full license, it's 17 or 18 in most states |
| 33% | CATCHPHRASE | 11 | Commonplace utterance ... or a description of 18-, 28- and 49-Across? |
| 33% | BANKLOAN | 8 | Financing option for a car or house |
| 33% | WOMENOFLETTERS | 14 | Female scholars ... or a hint to 19-, 28-, 34- and 42-Across |
| 32% | GOBELLYUP | 9 | File for Chapter 11 ... or do an 18-, 20-, 60- or 64-Across |
| 32% | COMETOTHETABLE | 14 | Show up for negotiations ... or a hint for 20-, 33- and 42-Across |
| 32% | HIDDENCOSTS | 11 | Surprises for buyers ... or what 18-, 28- and 43-Across contain |
| 32% | PARTYANIMALS | 12 | They're always ready for a good time ... or a description of 18-, 25-, 35- and 49-Across? |
| 31% | EXTRACT | 7 | Derive (from) ... or a two-part hint for understanding 17-, 33-, 42- and 58-Across |
| 31% | SISTER | 6 | With 64 Across, Audre Lorde book... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters |
| 31% | LABCOAT | 7 | Wear for a chemist, or for a canine, as shown by the starts of 18-, 24-, 51- and 61-Across |
| 31% | MIDDLESEAT | 10 | Cramped spot for a plane passenger ... or a hint to something hidden in 17-, 26-, 34-, 42- and 51-Across |
| 31% | MIDDLEC | 7 | Starting point for a piano student, or a phonetic hint to 17-, 18-, 22-, 33-, 41-, 49- and 55-Across |
| 31% | LASTONESTANDING | 15 | Survivor of an all-out brawl ... or a hint to 23-, 38-, 64- and 87-Across |
| 31% | SPINCYCLE | 9 | Washer action ... or a hint to four consecutive letters inside 18-, 23-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 31% | CLOTHESLINE | 11 | Where duds are draped to dry … or a literal description of 18-, 28- and 49-Across? |
| 31% | METALMUSIC | 10 | Genre for Slayer and Iron Maiden ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across |
| 31% | MODEL | 5 | What Barbie becomes when she's strutting down the ramp or posing for a magazine cover |
| 31% | TORCHSONGS | 10 | Tributes to unrequited love, and a possible description for 18-, 28- and 49-Across |
| 31% | EMMY | 4 | With 18 Across, one up for a prestigious television honor |
| 31% | AGE | 3 | 18 or so, for a typical first-year college student |
| 31% | ANS | 3 | T or F, for many a 19 Across |
| 31% | FINISHLINE | 10 | End of a race … or a hint to the conversation closers at 18-, 26- and 42-Across |
| 31% | LEMONWEDGE | 10 | Garnish for a glass of water, or a literal feature of 17-, 29-, 35- and 42-Across |
| 31% | GED | 3 | Option for a H.S. dropout |
| 31% | BREAKUPSONG | 11 | Track for an aching heart, and a hint to 16-, 28-, 34- and 42-Across |
| 30% | ONEND | 5 | Without a break ... or what each word in 18-, 28-, 46- and 62-Across has |