| 100% | ONETWOTHREEKICK | 15 | Classic Xavier Cugat song ... or a hint to the invitation in the circled letters |
| 64% | STILLIRISE | 10 | Classic Maya Angelou poem … or a hint to the answers to the starred clues and the circled letters, in two different ways |
| 63% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Masterpiece waiting to be found ... or a hint to the words in the circled letters |
| 63% | BLOWININTHEWIND | 15 | Bob Dylan song ... or a hint to the object found by connecting the four circled letters in a diamond |
| 58% | MANSPREADS | 10 | Crowds one's seatmates, in a way ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 58% | SWITCHBLADE | 11 | Street weapon ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 57% | COVERTOPERATION | 15 | Secret military mission ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle? |
| 57% | UPLOADS | 7 | Puts on a server, say ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 56% | BACKUPTHETRUCK | 14 | "Wait, what did you just say?," or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 56% | CORNERSTORE | 11 | Local convenience ... or a hint to the words in the circled squares |
| 56% | YOUDONTSAY | 10 | "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters |
| 56% | NAMECARDS | 9 | Labels at a dinner party ... or a hint to the circled letters hidden in the theme answers? |
| 56% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 54% | CHANGEDONESMIND | 15 | Decided otherwise ... or a hint to the four sets of circled letters |
| 54% | JUSTHAVINGABALL | 15 | Living it up ... or a hint to the six groups of circled letters |
| 54% | ROLLTHEDICE | 11 | Take a chance ... or a hint to the letters in the shaded squares |
| 54% | IMONAROLL | 9 | "Things could not be going better for me!" ... or a hint to the placement of the circled letters |
| 54% | MAKEMINEADOUBLE | 15 | Bar request ... or hint to the letters in the circles |
| 52% | FRENCHTWIST | 11 | Classic hairstyle ... or a hint to the puns in 17-, 25-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 52% | SETSSTRAIGHT | 12 | Disabuses of false notions … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 52% | GOFIRST | 7 | Lead off ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 52% | WRAPPINGPAPER | 13 | Holiday purchase ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 52% | HOPPINGMAD | 10 | Really miffed … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 52% | MIXTAPE | 7 | Homemade music compilation ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 52% | CLIMATECHANGE | 13 | Environmentalist's concern ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 52% | TWISTOFLEMON | 12 | Drink garnish ... or a hint to five letters in the answer to each starred clue |
| 51% | SPREADTHEWEALTH | 15 | Redistributionist's catchphrase ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 51% | INNER | 5 | Private ... or a hint to the words spelled by the circled letters |
| 51% | HOMESTRETCH | 11 | Last leg of a race ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 51% | PLANETARY | 9 | With 36-Down, astronomical rarity ... or a hint to the circled letters |