| 100% | HAYESNOQUESTION | 15 | Emphatic answer to "Who's the best musician named Isaac?" |
| 43% | SOANDSO | 7 | Name better left unsaid, or a literal hint to what the starred answers contain |
| 40% | ITISI | 5 | Formal answer to "Who's at the door?" |
| 38% | SMOKEYBEAR | 10 | Character who's wary of the starts to this puzzle's theme answers |
| 38% | HEH | 3 | The laugh of someone who's up to no good |
| 38% | IKE | 3 | First name of the musician who was Tina Turner's ex-husband |
| 38% | EVERYTHINGSOK | 13 | "It's all good," or a hint to the starred answers |
| 37% | BONO | 4 | Musician who was named Time’s Person of the Year alongside Bill and Melinda Gates |
| 36% | ANOTHERROUND | 12 | Best International Feature Oscar winner in 2021 ... and what's been added to the starred clues' answers |
| 36% | PUNNEDIT | 8 | What the puzzlemaker did to the name in each of this puzzle's theme answers? |
| 36% | NEIL | 4 | First name in NASA's prestigious list of astronauts who have been to the moon |
| 36% | ORPHEUS | 7 | Musician who went to the underworld for his wife |
| 36% | MAX | 3 | Good name for somebody living life to the fullest? |
| 36% | WADE | 4 | Former shooting guard Dwyane who was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team in 2021 |
| 35% | IDID | 4 | Answer to "Who let the dogs out?" |
| 35% | MAN | 3 | Answer to the Sphinx's Riddle |
| 35% | LYLE | 4 | Musician Lovett who won the Best Country Album Grammy in 1996 |
| 35% | YOYOMA | 6 | Whom People magazine once named the world's "sexiest classical musician" |
| 35% | LOMBARDI | 8 | Name on a trophy the contest answer helped to win twice |
| 35% | APRIL | 5 | ___ Ludgate, character from "Parks & Recreation," who encouraged her husband to make the World's Best Grilled Cheese |
| 35% | STEEL | 5 | Danielle who's the best-selling author alive |
| 35% | PAYEE | 5 | To whom the check's made out |
| 34% | AVA | 3 | Name that fills in the blanks to make another name: S_ _ _NNAH |
| 34% | DERINGER | 8 | Henry, the gunsmith who gave his name to a pistol |
| 34% | ATHENA | 6 | Goddess who lent her name to the capital of Greece |
| 34% | BPLUS | 5 | Pretty good grade, and a hint to the theme answers |
| 34% | PERP | 4 | Whom to catch in the three longest answers |
| 34% | NOIFSANDSORBUTS | 15 | Emphatic instruction for entering the answers to this puzzle's 10 starred clues? |
| 34% | GIRLSCOUT | 9 | Troop member who works to make the world a better place |
| 34% | BIEBER | 6 | Singer who gave his name to a "fever" in the 2010s |