| 100% | EYE | 3 | Gaze holder... or word that sounds like the third letter of 25a |
| 70% | KAY | 3 | Mary ___ cosmetics... or word that sounds like the last letter of 25a |
| 69% | SEA | 3 | Vast salty stretch... or word that sounds like the fourth letter of 25a |
| 66% | YOU | 3 | "___ gotta be kidding?"... or word that sounds like the second letter of 25a |
| 63% | QUEUE | 5 | Waiting line at the DMV... or a word that sounds like the first letter of 25a |
| 53% | EAU | 3 | French word that sounds like a letter of the alphabet |
| 53% | ICI | 3 | Common French word that sounds like two letters of the alphabet |
| 52% | AYE | 3 | Word that sounds like a letter of the alphabet that's not in it |
| 52% | ELSIE | 5 | Name that sounds like the twelfth and third letters of the alphabet |
| 48% | RHO | 3 | Greek letter that sounds like the end of 16-, 22-, 36-, 47- or 58-Across |
| 47% | EMPTY | 5 | Containing nothing, or a word that sounds like the initials of the answers to the starred clues |
| 47% | DEE | 3 | Name that sounds like the fourth letter of the alphabet |
| 47% | GEE | 3 | Exclamation that sounds like the seventh letter of the alphabet |
| 47% | PEA | 3 | Legume that sounds like the 16th letter of the alphabet |
| 45% | DEE | 3 | First name that sounds like the fourth letter of the alphabet |
| 45% | ESSAY | 5 | Former SAT section that sounds like the first two letters of "SAT" |
| 44% | WHY | 3 | Question that sounds like a letter of the alphabet |
| 44% | PEA | 3 | Vegetable that sounds like a letter of the alphabet |
| 44% | YEW | 3 | Tree that sounds like a letter of the alphabet |
| 44% | GEE | 3 | Exclamation that sounds like a letter of the alphabet |
| 44% | EEK | 3 | Shriek that sounds like part of the word "shriek" |
| 44% | TEPEE | 5 | Home that sounds like two letters of the alphabet |
| 44% | IVY | 3 | Plant that sounds like two letters of the alphabet |
| 44% | ARI | 3 | Name that sounds like two letters of the alphabet |
| 44% | EMMY | 4 | Award that sounds like two letters of the alphabet |
| 44% | ARI | 3 | Nickname that sounds like two letters of the alphabet |
| 44% | KAY | 3 | Girl's name that sounds like the 11th letter of the alphabet |
| 44% | DEE | 3 | Girl's name that sounds like the fourth letter of the alphabet |
| 44% | KAY | 3 | Woman's name that sounds like the 11th letter of the alphabet |
| 44% | EWE | 3 | Farm animal that sounds like a letter of the alphabet |