| 100% | CLIMATECHANGE | 13 | Environmentalist's concern ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 76% | MIXTAPE | 7 | Homemade music compilation ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 75% | GOFIRST | 7 | Lead off ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 75% | WRAPPINGPAPER | 13 | Holiday purchase ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 75% | HOPPINGMAD | 10 | Really miffed … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 74% | SETSSTRAIGHT | 12 | Disabuses of false notions … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 74% | SWITCHBLADE | 11 | Street weapon ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 74% | PLANETARY | 9 | With 36-Down, astronomical rarity ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 74% | SLICED | 6 | With 57-Across, deli offering ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 73% | COVERTOPERATION | 15 | Secret military mission ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle? |
| 72% | BREAKSCHARACTER | 15 | Can't hold back laughter while performing, say ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 72% | COLTRANECHANGES | 15 | Harmonic progression heard on albums like "Giant Steps"... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 72% | SPREADTHEWEALTH | 15 | Redistributionist's catchphrase ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 72% | BACKUPTHETRUCK | 14 | "Wait, what did you just say?," or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 72% | AHOUSEDIVIDED | 13 | Lincoln's description of pre-Civil War America … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 71% | YOUDONTSAY | 10 | "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters |
| 71% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 69% | INNER | 5 | Private ... or a hint to the words spelled by the circled letters |
| 69% | CHANGEDONESMIND | 15 | Decided otherwise ... or a hint to the four sets of circled letters |
| 69% | BREAKABLES | 10 | Fragile articles ... or a hint to the things named by the circled letters |
| 69% | PARTYDOWN | 9 | Really revel ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 69% | JUSTHAVINGABALL | 15 | Living it up ... or a hint to the six groups of circled letters |
| 68% | ONETWOTHREEKICK | 15 | Classic Xavier Cugat song ... or a hint to the invitation in the circled letters |
| 68% | SECRETSERVICE | 13 | President's protector ... and a hint to the circled letters |
| 68% | TRAILMIX | 8 | Backpacker's snack, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 68% | THREEPIECESUITS | 15 | Tailor's creations, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 67% | CANDYCANE | 9 | Christmas tree decoration ... or a hint to what the circled letters form |
| 66% | IMONAROLL | 9 | "Things could not be going better for me!" ... or a hint to the placement of the circled letters |
| 66% | MANSPREADS | 10 | Crowds one's seatmates, in a way ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 66% | BLOWININTHEWIND | 15 | Bob Dylan song ... or a hint to the object found by connecting the four circled letters in a diamond |