| 100% | READMUSIC | 9 | Follow a composer's notation ... or a hint to interpreting four clues in this puzzle |
| 76% | SOUNDMIXING | 11 | Academy Awards category eliminated in 2021 ... or a hint to interpreting four clues in this puzzle |
| 69% | DARKARTS | 8 | What sorcerers practice ... or a hint to interpreting five clues in this puzzle |
| 68% | HOLLYWOOD | 9 | With 61-Across, 1987 Robert Townsend satire ... or a hint to deciphering four clues in this puzzle |
| 64% | OPPOSITESATTRACT | 16 | Dating axiom … or a hint to interpreting four pairs of answers in this puzzle |
| 62% | ONEUP | 5 | Outdo ... or a hint to entering four answers in this puzzle |
| 61% | FIRST | 5 | With 5-Across, baby's milestone ... or a hint to the hidden layer in this puzzle's Across clues |
| 61% | COMPASS | 7 | Provider of directions ... or a hint to the four "+" shapes in this puzzle's grid |
| 61% | RAISETHEBAR | 11 | Heighten expectations, say ... or a hint to entering four answers in this puzzle |
| 60% | COVERALLTHEBASES | 16 | Take care of everything … or a hint to what four squares in this puzzle do |
| 59% | RINGOFFIRE | 10 | 17-Across hit ... or a hint to four connected answers in this puzzle |
| 59% | TURNKEYS | 8 | Jailers ... or a hint to "unlocking" four answers in this puzzle |
| 59% | ENTER | 5 | Key that moves the cursor to the next line ... or a hint to answering five clues in this puzzle |
| 58% | BLACKICE | 8 | Winter driving hazard ... or a literal hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 57% | ASTARISBORN | 11 | Thrice-remade movie … or, when parsed as six words, a hint to the theme clues in this puzzle |
| 57% | UNDERSEALAB | 11 | Aquanaut's workplace ... or a hint to what's graphically represented four times in this puzzle |
| 57% | THEBABYISASLEEP | 15 | New parent's whispered admonition … or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 56% | DOUBLEDOWN | 10 | Gamble boldly, in a way … or a hint to the answers to this puzzle's italicized clues |
| 56% | PIECESOFEIGHT | 13 | Pirate plunder ... or a hint to interpreting an appropriate number of squares in this puzzle |
| 56% | LATESHIFT | 9 | Overnight work assignment … or a hint to understanding four rows of answers in this puzzle |
| 56% | DIVEBAR | 7 | Seedy hangout ... or a hint to finishing four Across answers in this puzzle |
| 56% | LOVEHATERELATIONSHIPS | 21 | They involve mixed feelings ... or a hint to four squares in this completed puzzle |
| 56% | RAMPUP | 6 | Increase rapidly ... or a hint to connecting four pairs of answers in this puzzle |
| 56% | ESCAPEACT | 9 | Houdini’s signature feat … or a hint to the circled squares in this puzzle |
| 56% | DOUBLECROSS | 11 | Betray … or a hint to what's found in this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 56% | DOUBLECROSS | 11 | Betray ... or a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 55% | CABLEBOXES | 10 | TV adjuncts ... or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 55% | CHECKPOINTS | 11 | Border stops ... or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 55% | POPUPAD | 7 | Internet nuisance ... or a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 55% | BLACKHAT | 8 | Western villain ... or a hint to four answers in this puzzle |