| 100% | THINKTANKS | 10 | Bodies of advisory experts … or, when reinterpreted as an imperative, a hint to 17-, 24-, 38- and 52-Across |
| 44% | ITSMEAGAIN | 10 | "I'm back!" … or a hint to 17-, 24-, 38- and 51- Across |
| 42% | BEARSFRUIT | 10 | Pays off ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-, 38-, and 47-Across |
| 41% | KEYWEST | 7 | Florida island ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 52- and 65-Across |
| 41% | PRIMETIME | 9 | When TV viewership peaks ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 53-Across |
| 40% | EYECONTACT | 10 | Asset for a public speaker ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 52-Across |
| 39% | PICKUPLINES | 11 | Singles bar repertoire (and a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 52-Across) |
| 39% | ALLISLOST | 9 | Cry of despair (and a hint to solving 17-, 26-, 38- and 52-Across |
| 38% | BBQ | 3 | Cookout, briefly ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 23-, 52- and 58-Across |
| 38% | INSIDEDOPE | 10 | Lowdown ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 53-Across |
| 37% | LGBTQ | 5 | Modern movement initialism ... or a hint to the starts of 18-, 24-, 40-, 52- and 61-Across |
| 37% | IFIWEREYOU | 10 | Start of some advice … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 37% | HEADSTARTS | 10 | Race advantages ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 37% | HEADFAKE | 8 | Basketball feint ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 46-Across? |
| 37% | MAKEUP | 6 | Reconcile after a quarrel … or a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 52- and 61-Across |
| 37% | ATHLETICCUP | 11 | Protective sportswear ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 24-, 36- and 51-Across |
| 37% | FIVEIRONS | 9 | Fairway clubs ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to 17-, 24- and 45-Across and 10- and 37-Down |
| 36% | TAKETHEWIN | 10 | Accept victory, however dubious, and a hint to 17-, 24-, 37-, and 52-Across |
| 36% | ROCKYSTART | 10 | Bumpy beginning ... or a hint to 18-, 24-, 36- and 52-Across |
| 36% | PIECEOFCAKE | 11 | Easy-peasy ... or a hint to the start of 17-, 24-, 36- and 51-Across |
| 36% | COMEDYCENTRAL | 13 | Popular cable network ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 47- and 56-Across |
| 36% | MONEYMONEYMONEY | 15 | 1976 Abba song ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across |
| 36% | JOBOPENING | 10 | Want ad heading ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 36% | RENTACARS | 9 | Some vacation expenses ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 54-Across |
| 36% | DEEJAYS | 7 | Record spinners ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 38-, 48- and 61-Across |
| 35% | BREAKABLES | 10 | Extra-care items for movers ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-, 28-, 44- and 49-Across |
| 35% | HALFTIME | 8 | Game break … or a hint to interpreting the first parts of 17-, 26-, 36-, and 52-Across? |
| 35% | COUNTERFEITCOIN | 15 | Slug, or a hint to the starts of 17-, 28- and 46-Across |
| 35% | LASTONESTANDING | 15 | Survivor of an all-out brawl ... or a hint to 23-, 38-, 64- and 87-Across |
| 35% | ALLTUCKEDIN | 11 | Comfily ready to sleep ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 47-Across |