| 100% | APARTMENT | 9 | Flat in a residential complex that might be a creative person's abode, and a word with 16a hidden in it |
| 66% | CARTOON | 7 | Animations like "Tom and Jerry" that might be created by a creative person, and a word with 16a hidden in it |
| 52% | EARTH | 5 | The planet we reside in, that shows off its creative spirit in natural wonders, and a word with 16a hidden in it |
| 49% | RESTART | 7 | Begin from the beginning, or what a person might do when they hit a creative block, and a word with 16a hidden in it |
| 48% | CHART | 5 | Pie ___, disc-shaped graphic where a math genius may show their creativity, and a word with 16a hidden in it |
| 45% | PARTY | 5 | Fun gathering with food and music, where a creative soul may showcase their talent, and a word with 16a hidden in it |
| 40% | ART | 3 | What a creative person might make, and a word hidden in 17a, 30a, 43a, 11d, 29d, 39d |
| 35% | HERO | 4 | *Person who saves the day... and a word you may use to describe those being celebrated in this puzzle |
| 34% | EGO | 3 | Word hidden in this clue that might be a detriment to negotiations |
| 33% | PINTO | 5 | Gallo ___, dish with rice and beans as a base that may be served with breakfast in Central America |
| 32% | GHOSTSTORY | 10 | Tale that may be told with a fire in one's eyes |
| 32% | ROLLINGSTONE | 12 | Biweekly pop culture magazine that has been in publication since 1967 and shares its name with a legendary rock band: 2 wds. |
| 31% | STOPMAKINGSENSE | 15 | No longer be comprehensible ... and, with its first word divided in three parts, a hint to how to read this puzzle's title |
| 31% | ITRY | 4 | Words that might be spoken with a shrug |
| 31% | DIME | 4 | Ten-cent coin with Roosevelt's face on it, and a word that rhymes with "time" |
| 31% | BAA | 3 | Word repeated before "black sheep," in a nursery rhyme that may be one of the first poems you learned |
| 30% | BIENVENUE | 9 | Word that might be in the introduction to a French textbook |
| 30% | WHEW | 4 | Word that corresponds to the emoji with a grinning face, beads of sweat and seems to be wiping its brow |
| 30% | ARE | 3 | Word that might be shortened to just its middle letter, in texts |
| 30% | SPACE | 5 | The "S" in NASA, and a word that can be used alongside 22a, 39a, 40a, 50a, 27d, and 29d |
| 30% | SPAREKEY | 8 | It might be hidden in a fake rock |
| 30% | BACKSTREETBOYS | 14 | Boy band formed in 1993 with a popular eponymous debut album and are famous for their song "I Want It That Way": 2 wds. |
| 30% | KAZOO | 5 | Instrument that might be made with a comb and wax paper |
| 30% | SCARF | 5 | Warm accessory that may be worn with mittens and a hat |
| 30% | PLACEBO | 7 | A person may be taken in by taking it |
| 30% | LATTE | 5 | It may be topped with art in a café |
| 30% | PINACOLADA | 10 | Cocktail that might be served in a coconut with a miniature umbrella |
| 30% | NOB | 3 | One of wealth and standing in Britain ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 29% | STENO | 5 | With 26-Down, it may be used in a pool |
| 29% | ANS | 3 | It may be filled in with a No. 2 pencil |