| 100% | FORSAKE | 7 | Abandon ... or two words often seen next to the starts of 17-, 27-, 47- and 60-Across |
| 43% | SIXTEEN | 7 | Next number in a series suggested by the starts of 17-, 27-, 46- and 60-Across |
| 43% | JELLY | 5 | What quivering legs feel like ... or a word that can precede the starts of 17-, 27-, 45- and 60-Across |
| 43% | AFFIX | 5 | Add-on to the start or end of a word stem (as in 17-, 25-, 35-, 49- and 57-Across) |
| 42% | FINISHINGSECOND | 15 | Placing (and a hint to the first words of 17-, 24-, 47- and 60-Across) |
| 42% | BEARSFRUIT | 10 | Pays off ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-, 38-, and 47-Across |
| 42% | ONETWOTHREEFOUR | 15 | Start of a march chant … or a hint to 17-, 27-, 47- and 63-Across |
| 42% | DRAW | 4 | Something you can do to the starts of 17-, 21-, 37-, 53- and 60-Across |
| 41% | LAUGHINGOUTLOUD | 15 | Bit of textspeak, unshortened ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 27- and 49-Across |
| 41% | PICNICAREAS | 11 | Outside eating spots, and where to find the starts of 17-, 27-, and 47-Across |
| 40% | BOOBYTRAPS | 10 | Dangers for the unwary ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23- and 47-Across? |
| 40% | THATSMYJAM | 10 | “I love this song!” . . . or a hint to the starts of 17-, 27-, 39-, and 52-Across |
| 40% | NOTHINGDOING | 12 | "Forget about it!" ... or a clue to the starts of 20-, 27- and 47-Across |
| 40% | LINE | 4 | Word that can follow the starts of 17-, 27-, 44- and 59-Across |
| 39% | DIRTYWORDS | 10 | Curses ... or the starts of 17-, 27- and 44-Across? |
| 39% | BOARDGAME | 9 | Entertainment found at the start of the answer to 17-, 21-, 27-, 45- or 54-Across |
| 39% | COUNTERFEITCOIN | 15 | Slug, or a hint to the starts of 17-, 28- and 46-Across |
| 38% | COLDOPEN | 8 | Start of each "S.N.L." episode ... or a hint to the initials of the words in 17-, 24-, 35- and 47-Across |
| 38% | BUTTHEADS | 9 | Disagree ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 26-, 40- and 49-Across |
| 37% | CORN | 4 | Word that can precede the start of 17- or 54-Across or 11- or 27-Down |
| 37% | ACTOFGOD | 8 | Force majeure, and a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 37- and 47-Across |
| 37% | DANCE | 5 | Hint to the start of 17-, 31-, 46- and 61-Across |
| 37% | TAROTCARDREADER | 15 | One examining the starts of 17-, 27- and 48-Across |
| 37% | TASTEMAKERS | 11 | Influential sorts ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 39- and 50-Across |
| 37% | HOLDIT | 6 | "Stop right there!" … or a hint to the first words of 17-, 23-, 47- and 59-Across |
| 37% | RELOCATIONS | 11 | Changes made to the answers to 16-, 24-, 33- and 47-Across, whether interpreted as one word or two? |
| 36% | TRASHTALK | 9 | Taunting words for opponents, and a hint to the starts of 17-, 22-, 56- and 62-Across |
| 36% | USEFOWLLANGUAGE | 15 | What the starts of the answers to 17-, 24-, 48- and 60-Across do, punnily? |
| 36% | PIECEOFCAKE | 11 | Easy-peasy ... or a hint to the start of 17-, 24-, 36- and 51-Across |
| 36% | ODDSANDENDS | 11 | Hint to the starts of 20-, 27- and 50-Across |