| 100% | GOATMILK | 8 | Alternative to 2% … with or without the shaded letter |
| 68% | PLAYOFFS | 8 | They might eliminate teams … with or without the shaded letter |
| 66% | EMOTIONS | 8 | Things that might be raised in court … with or without the shaded letter |
| 66% | FACECARD | 8 | It may be half of a blackjack … with or without the shaded letter |
| 54% | WINTERARC | 9 | Season-long alternative to a New Year's resolution, or what the letters in the shaded squares represent? |
| 53% | SELECT | 6 | Pick, with or without the first letter |
| 51% | PLOTS | 5 | Units of land, with or without the first letter |
| 47% | TAKEOUTFOOD | 11 | Alternative to home cooking, or what should be done to the answers with circles |
| 44% | SKIM | 4 | Alternative to 2% or whole milk |
| 43% | YOUNG | 5 | With 68-Across, still feeling like a teenager, say ... or a hint to the answers with shading |
| 43% | INONEEARAND | 11 | With 113-Across, heard but disregarded ... or a hint to interpreting the Across answers with circled letters |
| 43% | CUTANEOUS | 9 | To do with or affecting the skin |
| 43% | SKIM | 4 | Alternative to whole or 2% |
| 42% | WHOLE | 5 | Alternative to skim or 2 percent |
| 42% | SKIM | 4 | Alternative to whole or 2% milk |
| 42% | SKIM | 4 | Alternative to whole or 2 percent |
| 42% | WHOLE | 5 | Alternative to 1% or 2% |
| 42% | AQUA | 4 | Bluish color, with or without "marine" at the end |
| 41% | PLANB | 5 | Alternative to the original strategy: 2 wds. |
| 41% | WHOLE | 5 | Alternative to skim, 1% or 2% |
| 41% | REEVE | 5 | Superman portrayer, with or without an "s" at the end |
| 41% | POLLICAL | 8 | To do with or relating to the thumb |
| 41% | BEWELL | 6 | Alternative to “Warm regards” or “All the best” |
| 40% | LUKEAIKINS | 10 | American skydiver who was the first to land safely without a parachute or wingsuit from mid-tropospheric altitude: 2 wds. |
| 40% | LMAO | 4 | Alternative to the Face with Tears of Joy emoji |
| 40% | LOL | 3 | Alternative to the "face with tears of joy" emoji |
| 40% | PAPERBAG | 8 | Alternative to plastic at the grocery checkout: 2 wds. |
| 40% | CONCUR | 6 | To agree with or be of the same opinion |
| 40% | FOLLOWINGTHE | 12 | With 58-Down, a patient process? ... or a hint to two consecutive letters in the answer to each of the seven starred clues |
| 40% | GIFTBAG | 7 | Alternative to a box covered with wrapping paper: 2 wds. |