| 100% | CONFUCIUS | 9 | Chinese philosopher whose writings are the basis of a religion |
| 50% | ABBA | 4 | Pop group whose music was the basis of a hit 2001 Broadway musical |
| 46% | GIN | 3 | Spirit that is the basis of a Tom Collins cocktail |
| 42% | ABBA | 4 | Group whose music is the basis of the "Mamma Mia!" movies |
| 42% | ABBA | 4 | Band whose songs were the basis of the musical "Mamma Mia!" |
| 42% | DIANAGABALDON | 13 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Outlander" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 42% | KATHYREICHS | 11 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Bones" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 41% | OKLAHOMA | 8 | State whose name is the title of a classic Broadway musical |
| 41% | TESSGERRITSEN | 13 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Rizzoli & Isles" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 41% | ROUEN | 5 | City whose cathedral is the subject of a series of Monet paintings |
| 41% | LENOVO | 6 | Chinese tech giant whose name is a portmanteau of the word "legend" and the Latin ablative "novo" |
| 40% | ANTONYM | 7 | A word whose meaning is the opposite of another |
| 40% | EURO | 4 | Currency whose spelling was the subject of a dispute between Bulgaria and the ECB |
| 40% | CSLEWIS | 7 | *Deceased writer whose work was the basis for a hit 2005 film |
| 40% | CRESTED | 7 | The Chinese __ is a breed of hairless dog |
| 39% | UNDERLIE | 8 | Be the basis of |
| 39% | ISIS | 4 | Bob Dylan song whose title is the name of a goddess |
| 39% | PLASTICMAN | 10 | DC Universe hero whose superpower was the basis of that of Marvel’s Mr. Fantastic |
| 38% | MERIMEE | 7 | Writer whose novella "Carmen" is the basis of Bizet's opera |
| 37% | KNESSET | 7 | Legislature whose current speaker is a member of the Likud party |
| 37% | HISTORIAN | 9 | Scholar whose work is a thing of the past? |
| 37% | APRICOTS | 8 | Fruits that are the basis of Marillenschnaps |
| 37% | RINGO | 5 | Johnny —, American outlaw whose life was the basis of the 1950 film The Gunfighter |
| 37% | ZOLTANKORDA | 11 | Director of The Jungle Book whose brother Alexander was also a director |
| 37% | THOMASHARRIS | 12 | Suspense novelist whose book was the basis for the movie "The Silence of the Lambs": 2 wds. |
| 37% | SHOOTING | 8 | It may be the basis of wishful thinking |
| 37% | MORTGAGE | 8 | Money lent on the basis of a property |
| 37% | AZTEC | 5 | Member of a Mexican Indian people whose great empire was overthrown by Cortes in the 16th century |
| 37% | JULES | 5 | With 141-Down, author whose work is the basis of this puzzle's theme |
| 37% | SMART | 5 | Be the victim of a sting? |