| 100% | DONTBLOWIT | 10 | Advice to a musician with a 23-, 26- or 43-Across? |
| 48% | DONTTAKEANYOF | 13 | With 33-Down, Skeptic's advice ... or a "noteworthy" hint to seven Across answers in this puzzle |
| 46% | GLOSS | 5 | Some makeup ... or a hint to 17-, 26-, 43- and 58-Across |
| 45% | THERESNOTWO | 11 | With 64-Across, words of certainty ... or a hint to 23-, 40- and 56-Across |
| 45% | FLYING | 6 | With 35-Across, complete success ... or a hint to 18-, 23-, 46- and 51-Across |
| 45% | SLICED | 6 | With 38-Across, deli purchase ... or a description of the answer to 17-, 26-, 47- or 55-Across |
| 45% | BETWEENYOUANDME | 15 | "Let this be our little secret" ... with a hint to 18-, 23-, 50- or 54-Across |
| 44% | ONE | 3 | With 43-Across, something never to be repeated ... or a hint to the answers to the italicized clues |
| 43% | BEERME | 6 | "I'll have a cold one, please" ... or a hint to 17-, 26-, 43- and 57-Across |
| 43% | HORSEPLAY | 9 | Roughhousing ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 21-, 26-, 33-, 40-, 43-, 47- and 56-Across |
| 43% | SEEMEAFTERCLASS | 15 | Ominous request from a teacher ... or a hint to the first words (and following letters!) of 17-, 26- and 43-Across |
| 42% | WORLDDOMINATION | 15 | Goal for many a 26- or 43-Across |
| 41% | OPENANDSHUTCASE | 15 | Easy-to-resolve situation ... or a hint to the progression found in 20-, 23-, 43-, 46- and 58-Across |
| 41% | SODAMIXER | 9 | Ingredient in some cocktails ... or a hint to the last words in 17-, 23-, 32-, 43- and 48-Across |
| 41% | BLUDGEON | 8 | To hit someone with a heavy club or object |
| 41% | BLIND | 5 | With 74- & 75-Across, "invisible" part of a distribution list ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 40% | SISTER | 6 | With 64 Across, Audre Lorde book... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters |
| 40% | THANTORECEIVE | 13 | With 2 Down, 36 Across & 43 Across, a Christmas-style maxim |
| 39% | DRIVERS | 7 | With 43-Across, Olivia Rodrigo hit, or a photo ID |
| 39% | INONEEARAND | 11 | With 113-Across, heard but disregarded ... or a hint to interpreting the Across answers with circled letters |
| 39% | BREAKUP | 7 | To split up with a boyfriend or girlfriend |
| 39% | WEATHERFRONT | 12 | What precedes a storm ... or a hint to 20-, 29- or 43-Across |
| 39% | PARFORTHECOURSE | 15 | Average ... or a literal hint to 17-, 26- and 42-Across |
| 39% | SPLITENDS | 9 | Hairy issue, or a hint to 20-, 26- and 51-Across |
| 38% | DEVOTO | 6 | Religious or pious instruction to a musician |
| 38% | BADHAIRDAY | 10 | Reason to wear a hat ... or what 17-, 27- or 43-Across may describe |
| 38% | ITS | 3 | With 40-Across, a chorus line ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 38% | NOSEEUMS | 8 | Minuscule biters, and a clue to understanding 15-, 26- and 43-Across |
| 38% | WHATSTHEMATTER | 14 | Question of concern, with a hint to 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 38% | FROMMETOYOU | 11 | 1963 Beatles hit ... or a hint to 16-, 26-, and 42-Across |