| 100% | BLOCK | 5 | Beachgoer's protection, and a literal hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 73% | BLACKICE | 8 | Winter driving hazard ... or a literal hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 69% | SHAPESUP | 8 | Gets fit, and a literal hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 66% | CORNERTHEMARKET | 15 | Monopolize, and a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 65% | TURNINGPOINTS | 13 | Decisive moments, and a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 61% | FUELUP | 6 | Go from empty to full, and a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 57% | TNUT | 4 | Hardware fastener ... or a literal hint to the circled squares in this puzzle |
| 57% | DIVIDEDBY | 9 | ÷ ... or a literal hint to interpreting eight squares in this puzzle |
| 57% | CABLEBOXES | 10 | TV adjuncts ... or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 57% | CHECKPOINTS | 11 | Border stops ... or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 57% | THEBABYISASLEEP | 15 | New parent's whispered admonition … or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 56% | HANDSDOWN | 9 | Easily ... and a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 56% | HANDRBLOCK | 10 | Tax giant, as well as a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 56% | DOUBLEDOWN | 10 | Strengthen one's commitment ... and a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 56% | TURNCOAT | 8 | Traitor, and a literal hint to this puzzle's circles |
| 56% | ICEBOXES | 8 | Fridges' predecessors, and a hint to six squares in this puzzle |
| 55% | BLACKFRIDAY | 11 | Time of annual madness ... or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 55% | BODYOFWATER | 11 | Geographic feature, and a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 55% | LIFTOFF | 7 | Launchpad event, and a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 55% | PIGEONHOLES | 11 | Typecasts, in a way ... or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 55% | LITTLEITALY | 11 | Neighborhood near SoHo, and a hint to three squares in this puzzle |
| 55% | BLACKOPS | 8 | Some covert assignments, and a hint to four spots in this puzzle |
| 54% | INTHEDARK | 9 | Wild guess, and a hint to four of this puzzle's squares |
| 54% | SLEEPERCELL | 11 | Operatives living in secret, and a hint to four squares in this grid |
| 54% | RISINGSUN | 9 | 1992 Michael Crichton bestseller, and a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 54% | TAKINGTHEPLUNGE | 15 | Acting after much hesitation, and a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 53% | PH/FONETICALLY | 14 | Middle of the quip ... and a hint to eight squares in this puzzle |
| 52% | LOVEHATERELATIONSHIPS | 21 | They involve mixed feelings ... or a hint to four squares in this completed puzzle |
| 52% | RADIO | 5 | It can be two-way ... with a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 51% | SHORT | 5 | With 39-Across, some Sundance submissions … or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |