| 100% | FOOLAROUND | 10 | Engage in some horseplay ... or a hint to the words spelled out in the circles |
| 61% | INNER | 5 | Private ... or a hint to the words spelled by the circled letters |
| 60% | CORNERSTORE | 11 | Local convenience ... or a hint to the words in the circled squares |
| 59% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Masterpiece waiting to be found ... or a hint to the words in the circled letters |
| 59% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 56% | MIDDLEAGE | 9 | Crisis time, for some ... or a hint to each of the circled words |
| 55% | SODAMIXER | 9 | Ingredient in some cocktails ... or a hint to the last words in 17-, 23-, 32-, 43- and 48-Across |
| 54% | MILKSHAKES | 10 | Diner treats ... or a hint to what's happening to the words in the circled squares in this puzzle? |
| 53% | NAMECARDS | 9 | Labels at a dinner party ... or a hint to the circled letters hidden in the theme answers? |
| 53% | PARTYDOWN | 9 | Really revel ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 53% | NOWYOUSEEITNOWYOUDONT | 21 | Magic words … or a hint to the other long answers in this puzzle |
| 52% | SPREADTHEWEALTH | 15 | Redistributionist's catchphrase ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 51% | SWITCHBLADE | 11 | Street weapon ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 51% | YOUDONTSAY | 10 | "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters |
| 51% | COVERTOPERATION | 15 | Secret military mission ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle? |
| 51% | ONETWOTHREEKICK | 15 | Classic Xavier Cugat song ... or a hint to the invitation in the circled letters |
| 51% | MANSPREADS | 10 | Crowds one's seatmates, in a way ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 51% | ESCAPEACT | 9 | Houdini’s signature feat … or a hint to the circled squares in this puzzle |
| 51% | BACKSTORY | 9 | Fictional past, or a hint to four-letter words found in the starred answers |
| 51% | SKIPPING | 8 | With 59-Across, lakeside activity ... or a hint to the words spelled across the fifth, eighth and 11th rows of the completed grid |
| 50% | BLOWININTHEWIND | 15 | Bob Dylan song ... or a hint to the object found by connecting the four circled letters in a diamond |
| 50% | UPLOADS | 7 | Puts on a server, say ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 50% | BIRDIE | 6 | Something needed to play the game depicted in this puzzle ... or a hint to the six circled answers |
| 50% | BACKUPTHETRUCK | 14 | "Wait, what did you just say?," or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 50% | BANANAGRAMS | 11 | Popular word game, or, read differently, a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | TENTOONEODDS | 12 | Big payout potential ... or a hint to the words in the shaded squares (and the clue numbers on which they begin!) |
| 49% | ALLABOARD | 9 | Train conductor's cry … or a hint to each word in the answers to the starred clues |
| 49% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 49% | ACROSSTHEPOND | 13 | In Britain, to Americans ... or a hint to what separates this puzzle's circled words |
| 49% | DIAGONALPARKING | 15 | Easy way of pulling in ... and a hint to the six circled words |