| 100% | MANSPREADS | 10 | Crowds one's seatmates, in a way ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 65% | SWITCHBLADE | 11 | Street weapon ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 64% | COVERTOPERATION | 15 | Secret military mission ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle? |
| 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 |
| 64% | UPLOADS | 7 | Puts on a server, say ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 63% | BACKUPTHETRUCK | 14 | "Wait, what did you just say?," or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 63% | YOUDONTSAY | 10 | "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters |
| 63% | NAMECARDS | 9 | Labels at a dinner party ... or a hint to the circled letters hidden in the theme answers? |
| 63% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 62% | CLIMATECHANGE | 13 | Environmentalist's concern ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 61% | ONETWOTHREEKICK | 15 | Classic Xavier Cugat song ... or a hint to the invitation in the circled letters |
| 60% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Masterpiece waiting to be found ... or a hint to the words in the circled letters |
| 60% | AHOUSEDIVIDED | 13 | Lincoln's description of pre-Civil War America … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 59% | GOFIRST | 7 | Lead off ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 59% | WRAPPINGPAPER | 13 | Holiday purchase ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 59% | HOPPINGMAD | 10 | Really miffed … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 59% | ESCAPEACT | 9 | Houdini’s signature feat … or a hint to the circled squares in this puzzle |
| 59% | HOMESTRETCH | 11 | Last leg of a race ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 58% | MIXTAPE | 7 | Homemade music compilation ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 58% | BLOWININTHEWIND | 15 | Bob Dylan song ... or a hint to the object found by connecting the four circled letters in a diamond |
| 58% | SETSSTRAIGHT | 12 | Disabuses of false notions … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 58% | SPREADTHEWEALTH | 15 | Redistributionist's catchphrase ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 58% | PLANETARY | 9 | With 36-Down, astronomical rarity ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 58% | SLICED | 6 | With 57-Across, deli offering ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 57% | SHIFT | 5 | With 100-Down, change one's approach, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 57% | DOUBLEDOWN | 10 | Gamble boldly, in a way … or a hint to the answers to this puzzle's italicized clues |
| 56% | HEADOVERHEELS | 13 | **One way to fall in love ... or a hint to the answers to the starred clues |
| 56% | BREAKSCHARACTER | 15 | Can't hold back laughter while performing, say ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 56% | COLTRANECHANGES | 15 | Harmonic progression heard on albums like "Giant Steps"... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 56% | BREAKEVEN | 9 | Have no profit or loss, and a hint to the circled letters |