| 100% | BREAD | 5 | Basic need for sustenance, along with 9-Across |
| 85% | WATER | 5 | Basic need for sustenance, along with 7-Across |
| 45% | BOOT | 4 | With 12 Across, place for basic training |
| 42% | FAKE | 4 | With 9-Across, bogus stories on Facebook, for example |
| 40% | HAMMERANDPICKLE | 15 | Basic needs for preserving a walnut? |
| 40% | SANTA | 5 | With 9 Across, Silicon Valley city |
| 40% | BARACK | 6 | With 9 Across, winner of 2008 |
| 40% | ITALO | 5 | With 9 Across, Indo-European subgroup |
| 40% | ONTHE | 5 | With 9-Across, how Elon Musk posed for his latest publicity shot? (6) |
| 39% | OMAR | 4 | With 9 Across, Streisand's ''Funny Girl'' spouse |
| 38% | NOTEPAD | 7 | Need for taking 9-Down |
| 37% | ERASER | 6 | Need for teachers across the board |
| 37% | ETC | 3 | Along with the others, for short |
| 37% | SACKCLOTH | 9 | Along with ashes, used for penitence |
| 37% | RACE | 4 | Event for which 9-Across is needed |
| 36% | CAMS | 4 | Devices needed for 63 Across |
| 36% | GOLF | 4 | With 16-Across, 9-, 37-, or 71-Across, for any given hole |
| 36% | CAKEBATTERIES | 13 | Need for a birthday treat with electric candles? |
| 36% | ETA | 3 | Info needed for those with connections |
| 35% | THOMAS | 6 | With 9 Down and 71 Across, source of quote |
| 35% | HOT | 3 | With 12 Across, another name for 22 Across |
| 34% | KNIFE | 5 | With 63 Across, bag for chefs |
| 34% | SIGHOF | 6 | With 37 Across, ''Alas!'', for instance |
| 34% | UPPER | 5 | With 9-Across, advantage |
| 34% | SALTINE | 7 | With 9-Down, crispy go-with for this puzzle's circles |
| 34% | MAN | 3 | With 43-Across, strength needed for a team job |
| 34% | EXIT | 4 | With 15 Across, graduation requirement for some |
| 34% | MELBA | 5 | With 39 Across, crispy base for cheese |
| 34% | FESTIVAL | 8 | With 16 Across, another name for Hanukkah |
| 34% | ENOUGHTO | 8 | With 45 Across, sufficient quantity for everybody |