| 100% | TAKESTHEEDGEOFF | 15 | Alleviates pain a little … or what this puzzle does to certain squares for literal effect |
| 41% | MERGELEFT | 9 | What you might have to do for some highway construction … or a first hint to solving this puzzle's theme |
| 39% | SOLVEFORX | 9 | Common directive in 17-Across … or what to do with five squares in this puzzle |
| 38% | SPREADTHEGOSPEL | 15 | Evangelize ... or what this puzzle's circled squares do? |
| 37% | POBOX | 5 | Certain mailing address, for short ... or a hint to 14 squares in this puzzle |
| 36% | RAISEDTHEBAR | 12 | Elevated expectations ... or what this puzzle's maker did to five answers in this puzzle? |
| 35% | COVERALLTHEBASES | 16 | Take care of everything … or a hint to what four squares in this puzzle do |
| 35% | SKIPJACK | 8 | Certain tuna ... or what this puzzle's 10 starred clues do |
| 34% | GETCRACKING | 11 | Hop to it ... or what to do to the various eggs in this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 33% | DROPMEALINE | 11 | "Don't be a stranger!" ... or what you have to do three times in this puzzle |
| 33% | WORKOUTTHEBUGS | 14 | Gradually fix something ... or what to do to understand this puzzle's italicized clues? |
| 33% | PASSNOTES | 9 | Furtively communicate in class, or what you need to do seven times in this puzzle |
| 32% | CUTONBOLDLINES | 14 | First step of instructions for what to do with this finished puzzle |
| 32% | CRACKINGTHECODE | 15 | Arriving at an “Aha!” moment . . . or what this puzzle is doing vis-à-vis its circled letters |
| 32% | TAKEASTEEPN | 11 | Plummet ... or what this puzzle's theme answers do? |
| 32% | BLACKICE | 8 | Winter driving hazard ... or a literal hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 32% | FLIPPEDTHEBIRD | 14 | Gestured rudely ... or what this puzzle's circles have done? |
| 32% | SPOILSPORTS | 11 | Party poopers, or what this puzzle's circled letters do |
| 31% | RUNUPATAB | 9 | Accumulate charges … or what you must do to answer four clues in this puzzle |
| 31% | DIVIDEDBY | 9 | ÷ ... or a literal hint to interpreting eight squares in this puzzle |
| 31% | RIPPEDABS | 9 | Many a gymgoer's goal … or what the starred clues in this puzzle must have for their answers to make sense? |
| 31% | TWELFTHMAN | 10 | Home-field advantage in football ... or what the last square of the answer to this clue represents in this puzzle |
| 31% | EXCHANGINGRINGS | 15 | Sharing in a symbol of commitment … or what four rows in this puzzle are doing to form new phrases |
| 31% | SKIPAGENERATION | 15 | Go from grandparent to grandchild ... or what this puzzle's starred entries do? |
| 31% | BREAKBREAD | 10 | Have a meal ... or, literally, what this puzzle does four times |
| 31% | PUTONTHESPOT | 12 | Pressured, or what five squares in this puzzle do |
| 31% | MTEREBUS | 8 | Southernmost active volcano in the world ... or a cryptic hint to certain squares in this puzzle |
| 31% | DOUBLECROSS | 11 | Betray … or a hint to what's found in this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 31% | GONEFISHING | 11 | Classic out-of-office sign ... or what this puzzle's author has done? |
| 31% | TAKEITDOWNANOTCH | 16 | Reduce one’s excitement slightly ... or what you have to do to the final letter of five long answers in this puzzle? |