| 100% | ALE | 3 | After writing these clues, I could use a mild, cool glass of this, I think |
| 36% | LITTLEHELPHERE | 14 | "I could use some assistance" ... and a hint to the contents of three squares in this puzzle |
| 35% | ASS | 3 | Word I could have used (but didn't) in a clue for REAR instead of using "Admiral", thereby demonstrating a degree of maturity |
| 34% | PINACOLADA | 10 | What I'm going to have after I've finished writing these clues and it's spelled out with the first two letters of five of the longest puzzle answers |
| 31% | CHATGPT | 7 | It wrote this clue: "Virtual assistant with the gift of gab (4, 3). Let me know if you'd like any tweaks!" |
| 30% | CASABLANCA | 10 | 1942 film that ends with the line “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” |
| 30% | YOUREMISSINGOUT | 15 | "That's a lost opportunity," and what can be said to the writer of four clues in this puzzle |
| 29% | TON | 3 | "I can't, I've got a ___ of work" |
| 29% | OUT | 3 | "I'm writing a poem about constellations, and it's really ___ of this world" |
| 29% | SONDHEIM | 8 | Composer who wrote, about crosswords, "A good clue can give you all the pleasures of being duped that a mystery story can" |
| 29% | OVEN | 4 | A kiln is one of these, used for wood or clay |
| 29% | LAYERS | 6 | A story could have many of these |
| 29% | ACRES | 5 | A lot can be made of these |
| 28% | ALKALINE | 8 | Gwyneth starts each day with a glass of this water |
| 28% | JENNY | 5 | Woman in a 1982 hit who can be reached using the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 28% | GULLIBLE | 8 | How you might feel after reading the third letter of every clue in this puzzle for a secret message |
| 28% | ITSSERIOUS | 10 | "I think I can see a future with him" |
| 28% | POEM | 4 | This clue / If I wrote it / Like this |
| 28% | IAMBS | 5 | This clue contains a whole quintet of them |
| 28% | HEX | 3 | This could be a case of bad spelling? |
| 28% | HAIRBAND | 8 | Use one of these to tie a ponytail |
| 28% | HELP | 4 | "I could use a hand!" |
| 28% | AMUSEME | 7 | "I could use a laugh" |
| 28% | EUPHEMISM | 9 | A mild expression used instead of an offensive one |
| 28% | RBIS | 4 | A tater can produce up to four of these |
| 28% | TRIANGLES | 9 | A hexagon can be divided into six of these |
| 28% | FACIAL | 6 | This type of hair can be a follicle annoyance |
| 28% | INJECTION | 9 | A syringe is used to give one of these |
| 28% | PASSIVE | 7 | Type of voice used in this clue |
| 28% | IWANTIN | 7 | “Make me a part of this deal!” |