| 100% | ROCKSET | 7 | Description of this puzzle's theme answers, sounding like "The Look" singers? |
| 53% | OPERA | 5 | Each of this puzzle's long Across answers sounds like one |
| 49% | PUN | 3 | Any of this puzzle's theme answers |
| 49% | OOHS | 4 | Sounds of awe heard twice in this puzzle's theme answers |
| 48% | THINKQUICKLY | 12 | To understand this puzzle's theme, read the ends of the answers to the starred clues and ... |
| 47% | ANO | 3 | New element in each of this puzzle's theme answers |
| 46% | CVS | 3 | Brief résumés, and an apt description of this puzzle's four longest answers |
| 45% | SALT | 4 | Theme of this puzzle, found in the answers to 21-, 26-, 44- and 52-Across |
| 45% | ABOUTFACE | 9 | Complete 180, or a terse description of this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | ACROSS | 6 | Like many of this puzzle's answers |
| 45% | ACROSS | 6 | Like 36 of this puzzle's answers |
| 45% | PUNNEDIT | 8 | What the puzzlemaker did to the name in each of this puzzle's theme answers? |
| 45% | DRONE | 5 | Bee formed by the letters heard at the starts of this puzzle's theme answers |
| 45% | SMOKEYBEAR | 10 | Character who's wary of the starts to this puzzle's theme answers |
| 44% | CRONE | 5 | Witch, and the combination of letters added to this puzzle's theme answers |
| 44% | LATERALSYMMETRY | 15 | Feature of this puzzle's grid and the answers to the six starred clues |
| 44% | GOESTOTHEDOGS | 13 | Rapidly deteriorates ... and what each of this puzzle's theme answers does? |
| 43% | XED | 3 | Struck out, as one letter in each of this puzzle's theme answers |
| 43% | DOUBLEDOUBLE | 12 | Basketball feat suggested by this puzzle's pairs of theme answers, informally |
| 43% | SPUNAROUND | 10 | Like the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| 43% | DAREDEVIL | 9 | Description of this puzzle's subject |
| 42% | CARTALK | 7 | NPR show from 1977 to 2021, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 42% | LIVINGONTHEEDGE | 15 | Taking risks, or, in another sense, a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 42% | HALFBAKED | 9 | Like the answers to this puzzle's 12 asterisked clues? |
| 42% | ANDTHATSFINAL | 13 | "End of discussion!" (or a description of this puzzle's theme) |
| 42% | OLD | 3 | Unlike the starts of this puzzle's four longest answers |
| 42% | ACROSS | 6 | Like the direction of this answer |
| 41% | FALLINGDOWN | 11 | Like the contents of this puzzle's circled squares, in a nursery rhyme |
| 41% | ACTIONPACKED | 12 | Like exciting comic books ... or this puzzle's theme answers? |
| 41% | AQUATIC | 7 | Like the five animals in this puzzle's theme |