| 100% | URCHIN | 6 | A sea __ is circular and covered in long spines |
| 44% | LIONFISH | 8 | Venomous sea animal, covered in stripes and spines |
| 41% | ANTEATER | 8 | Mammal whose long tongue is covered in spines |
| 41% | RES | 3 | ___ judicata (case in which there has been a final judgment and is no longer subject to appeal) |
| 41% | DEUCESWILD | 10 | Card game declaration, and a hint to what can be found in the four other longest answers |
| 40% | NINETOFIVEJOBS | 14 | Predictable work ... and, in a way, what the other three longest answers are? |
| 40% | BATTERED | 8 | Covered in a floury coating and deep fried |
| 39% | ROLL | 4 | "Rock and ___ Music," hit released by The Beach Boys in 1976 which was a cover of a song by Chuck Berry |
| 38% | OWE | 3 | Be a borrower and be in debt |
| 38% | POE | 3 | Who wrote "It was many and many a year ago, / In a kingdom by the sea ..." |
| 37% | TUBULAR | 7 | Long, circular and hollow like a hose |
| 37% | SHARK | 5 | Sea predator that was a star in 'Jaws' |
| 37% | FLOODING | 8 | A situation in which areas are covered with water |
| 37% | RYE | 3 | A cover crop, in places where grain is grown |
| 37% | SWIRL | 5 | Move in a twisting and circular motion |
| 37% | CARIBBEAN | 9 | Jamaica and Barbados are in this sea |
| 37% | WHITNEYHOUSTON | 14 | Singer and actress who played Rachel Marron in 18a and whose cover of "I Will Always Love You" became a best-selling single: 2 wds. |
| 36% | STOPMAKINGSENSE | 15 | No longer be comprehensible ... and, with its first word divided in three parts, a hint to how to read this puzzle's title |
| 36% | PIGEON | 6 | A common bird that is found in buildings and parks |
| 36% | BARBECUE | 8 | A long fork is used in this type of meat cooking |
| 36% | TAO | 3 | A cosmic and spiritual principle which is popular in the East |
| 36% | SPHINX | 6 | Blue __ nudibranch is a blue and black sea slug |
| 36% | JOVIAL | 6 | To be warm and friendly in a welcoming manner |
| 35% | SEA | 3 | In the world, there is a Red one and a Dead one |
| 35% | CATNIP | 6 | A herb that is minty in flavour and causes euphoria to felines |
| 35% | ACAI | 4 | A popular dark purple berry that is used in smoothies and yogurt |
| 35% | POLESAPART | 10 | In complete opposition ... and a feature of the four other longest answers |
| 35% | AMAZON | 6 | In its logo, A and Z are linked by an orange line |
| 35% | MAR | 3 | Mo. in which “Live Long and Prosper Day” is celebrated |
| 35% | VIRTUALREALITY | 14 | Field in which a helmet and gloves are often worn |