| 100% | THEFIRSTLETTERS | 15 | Find contest's meta-answer by reading ___ of these clues |
| 48% | YOU | 3 | Reader of this clue |
| 47% | ACROSS | 6 | Opposite direction of this clue's answer |
| 47% | THINKQUICKLY | 12 | To understand this puzzle's theme, read the ends of the answers to the starred clues and ... |
| 46% | OPPOSITESATTRACT | 16 | Saying about compatible partners … as suggested by the starts of the answers to this puzzle's starred clues? |
| 46% | ACROSS | 6 | How this clue's answer reads |
| 45% | PISAITALY | 9 | Home to this puzzle's featured structure, as hinted at by the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 45% | TURNTURNTURN | 12 | #1 hit by the Byrds ... or directions for reading the answers to this puzzle's starred clues (always clockwise as indicated) |
| 45% | SEVEN | 5 | This clue's number divided by this clue's answer |
| 44% | ZAMBONI | 7 | Machine waiting to enter the middle of this grid, as suggested by the answers to the starred clues |
| 42% | NINETEEN | 8 | The number of this clue divided by two |
| 42% | HIDDENWIRES | 11 | Devices worn by informants … and what can be found inside three pairs of answers in this puzzle |
| 41% | ASYMMETRY | 9 | Feature of this puzzle that's "fixed" by a literal reading of four squares |
| 41% | LATERALSYMMETRY | 15 | Feature of this puzzle's grid and the answers to the six starred clues |
| 40% | BOX | 3 | Container (and, in a way, what you will find outlined by this year's clues related to the mega-meta) |
| 40% | DISAPPEARINGINK | 15 | Liquid evidenced by the answers to this puzzle's starred clues? |
| 40% | BRITISHISMS | 11 | Words found in the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| 40% | HOMOPHONE | 9 | Feature of each entry's clue or answer (except this one) |
| 40% | THEBRONTES | 10 | Literary trio found in the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| 40% | AFTERMIDNIGHT | 13 | CBS late show hosted by Taylor Tomlinson ... or where to find the first words of the answers to the starred clues |
| 40% | DOUBLEDOUBLE | 12 | Basketball feat suggested by this puzzle's pairs of theme answers, informally |
| 39% | CHINESE | 7 | Language that's the source of the words answered by this puzzle's starred clues |
| 39% | TOPHATS | 7 | Partners of tails ... and what's found in the answers to starred clues |
| 39% | DOUBLENEGATIVE | 14 | Grammatical faux pas seen in four of this puzzle’s clues . . . and, in a different way, their answers? |
| 39% | FIVEWS | 6 | Journalism's traditional set of questions, obliquely addressed by the answers to starred clues |
| 38% | FOUR | 4 | Number of letters in this clue's answer |
| 38% | TWO | 3 | Number of consonants in this clue's answer |
| 38% | FULLCOUNT | 9 | 3-2 ... or what's represented by the answers to this puzzle's starred clues? |
| 38% | HONEYIMHOME | 11 | Cry after navigating the last parts of the answers to this puzzle's starred clues? |
| 38% | SEVEN | 5 | Half of this clue's number |