| 100% | THINWHITEDUKE | 13 | Alter ego of 24-/36-Across known for his cabaret wardrobe, with "the": 3 wds. |
| 45% | ZIGGYSTARDUST | 13 | Flamboyant glam-rock alter ego of 24-/36-Across: 2 wds. |
| 42% | HPLOVECRAFT | 11 | American gothic writer known for his works like "The Shadow Out of Time" and "The Dunwich Horror": 3 wds. |
| 40% | BOYZIIMEN | 9 | Terribly spelled band known for "End of the Road": 3 wds. |
| 38% | JIMTAYLOR | 9 | Former Green Bay Packers NFL player, known for his aggression, and is considered one of the greatest running backs ever: 2 wds. |
| 37% | KEITHJACKSON | 12 | Sports commentator known for his distinctive voice and career with ABC Sports who is best known for his coverage of college football: 2 wds. |
| 36% | STEVEMARTIN | 11 | American comedian and actor that reportedly has an IQ as high as 142, and known for his role in "Father of the Bride": 2 wds. |
| 36% | EDGARALLANPOE | 13 | American gothic writer known for his works like "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart": 3 wds. |
| 36% | ROBERTAFLACK | 12 | 1999 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee for the soul song "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (2 wds.) |
| 36% | TSELIOT | 7 | Writer and poet, known for "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock": 3 wds. |
| 35% | CHARLESDARWIN | 13 | British scientist known for his theory of evolution: 2 wds. |
| 35% | CHARLESDARWIN | 13 | Pioneering biologist known for his theory of evolution: 2 wds. |
| 35% | JAMESBLISH | 10 | Sci-fi writer known for his "Cities in Flight" series and his "Star Trek" novels with 17-Across (2 wds.) |
| 35% | BENTHAM | 7 | Jeremy known for his "greatest happiness of the greatest number" philosophy |
| 35% | LARUE | 5 | Lash known for his use of the bullwhip in old Westerns |
| 35% | EDGARALLANPOE | 13 | 19th-century short-story writer known for "The Fall of the House of Usher" (3 wds.) |
| 35% | GREGORY | 7 | — XIII, 16th-century Pope best known for his reformation of the calendar |
| 34% | LECARRE | 7 | Author known for the intelligence of his writing? |
| 34% | BRENDANFRASER | 13 | Best Actor Oscar winner for his portrayal of a reclusive English teacher trying to reconnect with his daughter in the 2022 film "The Whale" (2 wds.) |
| 34% | BARTBAKER | 9 | YouTuber known for his parodies of hit songs like "Wrecking Ball": 2 wds. |
| 34% | KEN | 3 | ___ Follett, historical fiction author known for his novel "The Pillars of the Earth" |
| 34% | ANSEL | 5 | With 32-Across, photographer known for his pictures of Yosemite |
| 34% | DIANAPRINCE | 11 | Alter ego of 17-Across: 2 wds. |
| 34% | ALECHOLLAND | 11 | Alter ego of the titular DC comics character from the TV series "Swamp Thing": 2 wds. |
| 34% | PARRY | 5 | Hubert —, English composer best known for his setting of the William Blake poem Jerusalem |
| 34% | RICHHOMIEQUAN | 13 | Atlanta rapper with the hit "Type of Way": 3 wds. |
| 34% | ABOUTDAMNTIME | 13 | Song by Lizzo that was honored with the People's Choice Award for The Song of 2022 (3 wds.) |
| 34% | ALLFORONE | 9 | With 24 Across, slogan of The Three Musketeers |
| 33% | HRGIGER | 7 | Swiss artist known for his design of the creature in 1979 sci-fi film Alien |
| 33% | BLANCO | 6 | Richard ___, modern poet known for his reading of "One Today" at the 2013 presidential inauguration |