| 100% | AESTHETIC | 9 | Defined by a concern with beauty or good taste |
| 38% | FRIEND | 6 | "A" good pal like Woody, to Buzz Lightyear ... or with 24a, a 1971 Grammy-winning song by Carole King |
| 36% | PALATABLE | 9 | With a pleasant taste or aroma |
| 36% | NUTTY | 5 | With a taste like cashews or pecans |
| 35% | AESTHETICS | 10 | Branch of philosophy concerned with the study of beauty and taste |
| 34% | SWAG | 4 | Slang for booty or goods taken by theft, or a way to "plunder" |
| 34% | ACE | 3 | Good card to pair with a queen or king in blackjack |
| 33% | CARE | 4 | Show concern, or handle a fragile parcel with this |
| 33% | ESTHETIC | 8 | Concerned with beauty |
| 33% | SATELLITE | 9 | With 6-Down, a country that is controlled or influenced by another |
| 33% | ECON | 4 | A subject or class in college that deals with goods and services |
| 33% | WARES | 5 | Goods for sale by a shop or merchant |
| 33% | BIGSHOESTOFILL | 14 | High standards established by a predecessor … or what you are presented with in this puzzle? |
| 32% | MILLION | 7 | With 49-Across, 2004 Clint Eastwood film, or a 2024 song by Tommy Richman |
| 32% | AIDA | 4 | Verdi opera, or a 2000 Broadway musical with music by Elton John |
| 32% | BARTER | 6 | Make a trade with goods or services instead of money |
| 31% | SOMBRERO | 8 | Felt or straw hat with a wide brim worn by men in Mexico |
| 31% | DICE | 4 | *Board game cubes ... or with "Roll of the," a song by Bruce Springsteen |
| 31% | WAY | 3 | "A" path or direction ... or with 24a, a 1999 Grammy-nominated hit by Shania Twain |
| 31% | PARLOR | 6 | Word with beauty or pizza |
| 31% | PHOBIA | 6 | Reason not to travel by plane, give a speech, or interact with a clown |
| 31% | UNMORAL | 7 | Not influenced by or concerned with ethical issues |
| 31% | ERA | 3 | Time span defined by a presidency |
| 30% | ONETHINGRIGHT | 13 | Just a single good move, or a 2019 Marshmello hit with Kane Brown: 3 wds. |
| 30% | THU | 3 | Abbr. for a word also with abbrs. by its first four or first five letters |
| 30% | EUGENIC | 7 | Concerned with good breeding |
| 30% | WHATSINTHEBOXES | 15 | Question asked by a customs officer or a kid on Christmas ... with a hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| 30% | TRIPLE | 6 | With 39-Across, impressive basketball feat ... or a feature shared by the answers to the six starred clues |
| 30% | THIMBLEFUL | 10 | Amount defined by a small sewing gadget |
| 30% | HANDSOME | 8 | Adjective for a good-looking man, or word that starts with an often-gloved body part |