| 100% | SETSSTRAIGHT | 12 | Disabuses of false notions … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 69% | CHANGEDONESMIND | 15 | Decided otherwise ... or a hint to the four sets of circled letters |
| 68% | JUSTHAVINGABALL | 15 | Living it up ... or a hint to the six groups of circled letters |
| 66% | GOFIRST | 7 | Lead off ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 66% | WRAPPINGPAPER | 13 | Holiday purchase ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 66% | HOPPINGMAD | 10 | Really miffed … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 66% | IMONAROLL | 9 | "Things could not be going better for me!" ... or a hint to the placement of the circled letters |
| 65% | MIXTAPE | 7 | Homemade music compilation ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 65% | CLIMATECHANGE | 13 | Environmentalist's concern ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 65% | HOMESTRETCH | 11 | Last leg of a race ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 65% | SWITCHBLADE | 11 | Street weapon ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 65% | PLANETARY | 9 | With 36-Down, astronomical rarity ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 65% | SLICED | 6 | With 57-Across, deli offering ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 64% | COVERTOPERATION | 15 | Secret military mission ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle? |
| 63% | BREAKSCHARACTER | 15 | Can't hold back laughter while performing, say ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 63% | COLTRANECHANGES | 15 | Harmonic progression heard on albums like "Giant Steps"... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 63% | BACKUPTHETRUCK | 14 | "Wait, what did you just say?," or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 62% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 61% | INNER | 5 | Private ... or a hint to the words spelled by the circled letters |
| 60% | BREAKABLES | 10 | Fragile articles ... or a hint to the things named by the circled letters |
| 60% | PARTYDOWN | 9 | Really revel ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 60% | AHOUSEDIVIDED | 13 | Lincoln's description of pre-Civil War America … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 60% | ONETWOTHREEKICK | 15 | Classic Xavier Cugat song ... or a hint to the invitation in the circled letters |
| 60% | SPREADTHEWEALTH | 15 | Redistributionist's catchphrase ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 59% | OUTSIDESHOT | 11 | Low probability of success, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 59% | CANDYCANE | 9 | Christmas tree decoration ... or a hint to what the circled letters form |
| 59% | BOXCARS | 7 | Freight train components ... or a hint to each group of circled letters |
| 58% | YOUDONTSAY | 10 | "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters |
| 58% | SHOEBOXES | 9 | Stack at Famous Footwear, and a hint to the sets of circled letters |
| 58% | WRAPSUP | 7 | Finishes, and a hint to the sets of circled letters in this puzzle |