| 100% | INSIDEJOB | 9 | Betrayal of trust, hinted at by the circled letters, which form an apt John le Carré title |
| 38% | PINOCCHIO | 9 | Disney character hinted at by the circled letters |
| 38% | HIDEANDSEEK | 11 | Children's game hinted at by the circled letters |
| 37% | INNERCITIES | 11 | Urban areas (as hinted at by the circled letters in this puzzle's grid) |
| 33% | SAND | 4 | "Love Letters in the ___," song with an ocean-related word in the title, a version of which was sung by Pat Boone |
| 33% | SAND | 4 | "Love Letters in the ___," song with an ocean-related word in the title, a version of which was sang by Pat Boone |
| 32% | LETAFOOL | 8 | Part 1 of a maxim by Publilius Syrus, hinted at by the series of circled letters |
| 32% | SHOWSUP | 7 | Arrives, and an apt description of the sets of circled letters |
| 29% | THIRTYDAYS | 10 | Feature of the time periods hinted at by the starting letters of 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across |
| 29% | CHUCKNORRIS | 11 | Celebrity hinted at by the ends of 30-, 32- and 36-Across |
| 29% | DRONE | 5 | Bee formed by the letters heard at the starts of this puzzle's theme answers |
| 29% | ILIAD | 5 | Work hinted at by the starts of 17-, 26-, 42- and 56-Across |
| 29% | STOPLIGHT | 9 | Signal hinted at by the first parts of 17-, 31- and 46-Acros |
| 29% | PASTIMES | 8 | Diversions ... as hinted at by the ends of 17-, 34- and 52-Across |
| 29% | VOLLEYBALL | 10 | Sport hinted at by the ends of 17-, 24-, 36- and 47-Across |
| 29% | PIZZAPARTY | 10 | Social event hinted at by the ends of 18-, 28- and 48-Across |
| 29% | WOODSTOCK | 9 | Aquarian event at Yasgur's farm, and a hint to what's formed by the circled letters |
| 28% | WAX | 3 | Spa treatment hinted at by the ends of 17-, 27-, 44- and 55-Across |
| 28% | EQUILATERAL | 11 | Like the figure formed by the three circled letters at the bottom |
| 28% | FLAG | 4 | LGBTQ symbol celebrating its 40th anniversary hinted at by the starts of the starred answers |
| 28% | FRENCHFLAG | 10 | National symbol hinted at by the ends of 3-, 25- and 9-Down (in order) |
| 28% | ARMORYSHOW | 10 | Event at which the work spelled out by the circled letters was first exhibited in America |
| 28% | CROSS | 5 | With 36-Down, intersection ... as suggested by the circled letters in the middle of this puzzle? |
| 28% | BANDB | 5 | Quaint lodging hinted at by the outsides of 18-, 20-, 28-, 42-, 51- or 55-Across |
| 28% | FIGHTCLUB | 9 | 1999 Brad Pitt movie hinted at by the beginnings of 17-, 21-, 39- and 52-Across |
| 28% | SOMETHINGSFISHY | 15 | "Hmmmmm ..." [as hinted at by the three groups of black squares in the middle of the grid] |
| 27% | BRAD | 4 | With 59-Down, star of the work revealed by the first letters of the Across clues, which hint at this puzzle's theme |
| 27% | TIMES | 5 | ___ Square (landmark suggested by the groups of circled letters) |
| 27% | HTTP | 4 | Letters at the start of an address? |
| 27% | SMILEYFACE | 10 | What's formed by the circled letters in this puzzle |