| 100% | SEVENSEAS | 9 | Global group, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 88% | BUZZWORDS | 9 | Snazzy jargon, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 87% | COKEISIT | 8 | Pop slogan of 1982, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 87% | BEACHFRONT | 10 | Coastal strip of land, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 87% | BEARDOWN | 8 | Put in extra effort, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 86% | WHERETHE | 8 | With 43-Across, an exciting place, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 86% | CLOCKFACES | 10 | Their third hands are their second hands, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 85% | OPENINGBELL | 11 | 9:30 a.m. event at the NYSE, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 83% | DRESSINGDOWNS | 13 | Severe reprimands, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 83% | PLAYMATES | 9 | Sandbox sharers ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 83% | HEAVYMETAL | 10 | Rock genre ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 83% | COMMONSENSE | 11 | Practical judgment ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 82% | MOVIETRAILERS | 13 | "Coming attractions" offerings, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 82% | OILCHANGE | 9 | Jiffy Lube service, and a hint to the start of the answers to starred clues |
| 82% | SWORDPLAY | 9 | Art of fencing, and a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 80% | PLUMBERS | 8 | '70s covert White House intelligence group ... and, in a more conventional sense, a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 79% | FINDCLOSURE | 11 | Accept and let go of something … or a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 78% | DOWNSIZES | 9 | Scales back, or a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 77% | KEYWORD | 7 | Database search option, and a hint to the ends of the starred answers |
| 77% | THEGAMBLER | 10 | 1978 Kenny Rogers hit, and a hint to the ends of the starred answers |
| 76% | BACKROOM | 8 | Where shady deals may be made, and a hint to the ends of the starred answers |
| 76% | RAINOUT | 7 | Ballpark bummer, and a hint to making sense of the starred answers |
| 75% | THERES | 6 | With 36-Across, "This has strings attached," and a hint to the ends of the starred answers |
| 74% | FALLINGLEAVES | 13 | Autumn occurrence, and a hint to the start of the other four longest Down answers |
| 74% | GENEEDITING | 11 | Molecular manipulation technique ... and a hint to the starts of the three other longest puzzle answers |
| 74% | ANIMALHOUSE | 11 | Raucous frat film, and a hint to the starts of the other four long Across answers |
| 73% | ACIDTEST | 8 | Ordeal ... and a hint to the initials of the answers to starred clues |
| 73% | ONYOURFEET | 10 | "Stand up!" ... and a hint to the beginnings of the answers to starred clues |
| 73% | COLDFRONTS | 10 | Harbingers of lower temperatures, and a hint to the answers to the starred clues |
| 72% | TIES | 4 | Binds ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to the six starred clues |