| 100% | MAIN | 4 | Chief or central...and a synonym of "important" |
| 56% | VITAL | 5 | Crucial or life-sustaining...and a synonym of "important" |
| 53% | YEA | 3 | Vote that's both an anagram and a synonym of "aye" |
| 52% | KEY | 3 | Lock's partner...or a synonym of "important" |
| 50% | MOCKTAIL | 8 | Nonalcoholic mixed drink … or a hint to the synonyms found at the ends of 16-, 24-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 49% | NUCLEUS | 7 | The central and most important part of something |
| 49% | HEMI | 4 | Prefix that's a synonym and rhyme of "semi" |
| 48% | CRAVE | 5 | Hunger for...and a synonym of "yearn" |
| 48% | DESIRE | 6 | Strong urge...and a synonym of "yearn" |
| 48% | THIRST | 6 | Parched feeling...and a synonym of "yearn" |
| 48% | YEA | 3 | It's both a synonym and an anagram of "aye" |
| 48% | INSEARCHOFLOSTLIME | 18 | Or "Remembrances of a Gin and Tonic Enthusiast"? |
| 48% | BOGGLE | 6 | Flummox ... or a classic word game represented by the central grid of shaded squares, in which 15-, 17- and 55-Across can be found |
| 47% | PRIME | 5 | Amazon's paid subscription offering...or a synonym of "important" |
| 47% | MAJOR | 5 | Army rank below lieutenant colonel...or a synonym of "important" |
| 47% | DISCIPLE | 8 | A student or follower of Jesus and his teachings |
| 47% | LOTS | 4 | Parking facilities or a synonym of "many" |
| 46% | SLIDE | 5 | * PowerPoint component or a synonym of 1a |
| 46% | ROOT | 4 | Most important part of a carrot or turnip plant |
| 46% | NEUTRAL | 7 | Unbiased, or the central gear of a stick shift |
| 46% | BULLSEYE | 8 | The central area of a dartboard or archery target |
| 46% | ETHOS | 5 | The central beliefs of a time period or community |
| 46% | ASTELIC | 7 | Lacking the central core of a stem and root |
| 46% | PORTRAIT | 8 | Head and shoulders painting or drawing of a person |
| 45% | PITCH | 5 | Business proposal ... or the central strip of a cricket field |
| 45% | PILE | 4 | Mountain of books or a synonym of "many" |
| 45% | SLEW | 4 | Killed a dragon or a synonym of "many" |
| 45% | ARMY | 4 | Marching military force or a synonym of "many" |
| 45% | DETERMINATION | 13 | *Dedicated commitment... or a synonym of "resolution" |
| 45% | PLEDGE | 6 | *Sworn oath... or a synonym of "resolution" |