| 100% | CONUNDRUM | 9 | A taxing puzzle or problem |
| 59% | COOPERATE | 9 | Work together to solve a problem or puzzle |
| 57% | SPLITENDS | 9 | Hairy problem? ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 49% | CESS | 4 | A rate or tax |
| 47% | LEAK | 4 | Problem for a faucet or pipeline |
| 47% | SNARL | 5 | Problem for a motorist or stylist |
| 47% | TOLLS | 5 | Taxes for a bridge or road |
| 47% | POSER | 5 | Puzzling question or problem |
| 46% | HOLE | 4 | Problem with a sock or a plot |
| 46% | LEAK | 4 | Problem for a homeowner or government worker |
| 46% | RIDDLE | 6 | A misleading or puzzling statement or question |
| 45% | ADD | 3 | Recipe instruction or a math problem |
| 44% | DUTYFREE | 8 | Tax-exempt shopping area in a port or airport |
| 44% | HEADACHE | 8 | Nagging skull pain or a worrying problem |
| 44% | MIRED | 5 | Stuck in a problem or in mud |
| 44% | PEOPLEOFTHEEARTH | 16 | Humankind … or a title for this puzzle |
| 44% | AUPAIR | 6 | Domestic … or a title for this puzzle |
| 44% | NOINK | 5 | Problem for a printer or a tattoo artist (2 wds.) |
| 44% | KNOT | 4 | Necktie feature, or a problem with a shoelace |
| 44% | AROSE | 5 | Cropped up like a topic or a problem |
| 43% | HANDSET | 7 | Phone part ... or a title for this puzzle? |
| 43% | BOOMERANGEFFECT | 15 | Unwelcome reversal ... or a title for this puzzle? |
| 43% | CONUNDRUM | 9 | A riddle or problem that's difficult to solve |
| 43% | TENK | 4 | Certain race ... or a cryptic title to this puzzle |
| 43% | ONAMARCH | 8 | Parading ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 43% | ADDICT | 6 | Fiend … or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 43% | APART | 5 | Separate ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 43% | FREUDIANSLIPINS | 15 | Subtly added mistakes? … or a title for this puzzle |
| 43% | CATCHINGSOMEZZ | 14 | Asleep ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 43% | ELONGATE | 8 | Stretch ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme? |