| 100% | SILVERFOX | 9 | Attractive older man who’s gone gray (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2021) |
| 52% | SAPIOSEXUAL | 11 | One who’s attracted to highly intelligent people (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2021) |
| 48% | GIGWORKER | 9 | Person who takes temporary jobs in the service sector (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2021) |
| 45% | SECONDGENTLEMAN | 15 | Husband of a Vice-President (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2021) |
| 45% | REACTIONGIF | 11 | Animated image texted as a reply (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2021) |
| 44% | CAPE | 4 | Vigorously defend, with “for” (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 44% | RIZZ | 4 | Romantic appeal or flirting skill (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 43% | METAVERSE | 9 | Virtual environment that accommodates multiple realities (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2022) |
| 43% | CRATEDIG | 8 | Shop for rare recordings in secondhand stores (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 43% | GREENWASH | 9 | Mask environmentally harmful practices with misleading P.R. (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2022) |
| 43% | SMISHING | 8 | Tricking people into disclosing confidential information via text (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 43% | CROMULENT | 9 | Synonym for “acceptable” first used on “The Simpsons” (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 43% | BEASTMODE | 9 | Animalistic persona that one might adopt when competing (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 41% | QUIETQUIT | 9 | Do as little work at one’s job as possible (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 39% | EDGELORD | 8 | Person who delights in trolling or making deliberately provocative comments (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 38% | TERRAFORM | 9 | Make inhabitable, as a planet (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2022) |
| 37% | VIDEODOORBELL | 13 | Small security camera at a house’s entrance (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2022) |
| 37% | COLDOPEN | 8 | Scene that precedes a title sequence (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 35% | MUDSEASON | 9 | Time of year when dirt roads become undrivable (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2022) |
| 34% | CHUCKLORRE | 10 | Creator of "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory," who is also the co-creator of CBS's new show "Young Sheldon": 2 wds. |
| 33% | MEMESTOCK | 9 | Market offering that surges because of social-media buzz (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2023) |
| 32% | SHRINKFLATION | 13 | The practice of selling less product for the same price (and a new Merriam-Webster entry of 2022) |
| 32% | ELI | 3 | ___ Manning who's a New York Giants legend |
| 30% | SKELETOR | 8 | Cartoon villain who's the enemy of He-Man and has a flesh-free skull |
| 30% | LOLA | 4 | Title character of song who "walks like a woman and talks like a man" |
| 30% | HOLLANDTAYLOR | 13 | "Two and a Half Men" actress who came out of the closet in 2015 at age 72: 2 wds. |
| 30% | THECIDERHOUSELURES | 18 | Story of a youth who says to hell with it and goes to the pub? |
| 30% | DYLANDREILING | 13 | 19-Across outfielder who had a .341 season batting average and was named MVP of the 2024 Men's College World Series (2 wds.) |
| 29% | JOSHBROLIN | 10 | Actor from "No Country for Old Men," who plays the role of Cable, a mutant soldier, in "The Untitled Deadpool Sequel": 2 wds. |
| 29% | MACDONALD | 9 | Old man who had a farm in a nursery rhyme |