| 100% | BIGSHOESTOFILL | 14 | High standards established by a predecessor … or what you are presented with in this puzzle? |
| 44% | DVDRECORDER | 11 | TV hookup option ... or what you are by solving this puzzle? |
| 41% | DROPMEALINE | 11 | "Don't be a stranger!" ... or what you have to do three times in this puzzle |
| 37% | PEN | 3 | What you might be doing this puzzle in |
| 36% | XBOX | 4 | Gaming console, or what you can find literally depicted in this puzzle |
| 35% | RUNUPATAB | 9 | Accumulate charges … or what you must do to answer four clues in this puzzle |
| 35% | BOX | 3 | Container (and, in a way, what you will find outlined by this year's clues related to the mega-meta) |
| 34% | DOORWAY | 7 | Portal represented 20 times in this puzzle that lets you in and out of a confined space (Note: These special letters, reading left to right, row by row, will produce an apt four-word phrase) |
| 34% | PEST | 4 | With 65-Across, extermination ... or what can be done to 10 answers in this puzzle without affecting their clues? |
| 34% | TAILINGOFF | 10 | Waning ... or a hint to what is found by circling all the T's in the completed puzzle |
| 34% | SHIRT | 5 | What you might lose in a high-stakes poker game (figuratively) or a strip-poker game (literally) |
| 33% | GOALS | 5 | What you score in soccer or hockey, or resolutions that are set as a New Year's tradition |
| 33% | RAISETHEBAR | 11 | Set higher standards, and what you must do five times in this puzzle |
| 33% | TAKEITDOWNANOTCH | 16 | Reduce one’s excitement slightly ... or what you have to do to the final letter of five long answers in this puzzle? |
| 33% | LIEUNDEROATH | 12 | Perjure oneself ... or what can be found six times in this puzzle |
| 33% | SMALLPOTATOES | 13 | Insignificant thing, or what can be found four times in this puzzle |
| 33% | CORNERSTONE | 11 | Architectural marker, or what can be found four times in this puzzle |
| 33% | MERGELEFT | 9 | What you might have to do for some highway construction … or a first hint to solving this puzzle's theme |
| 33% | SMARTCOOKIE | 11 | What you are, by completing the puzzle |
| 32% | HOOTS | 5 | What you hear in this conversation: "Good evening." "Good evening. Oh look, there's a mouse. I'll be right back." |
| 32% | AIGENERATED | 11 | What this puzzle is definitely not, having been created by me, a real and true human being |
| 32% | VOICEOVERARTIST | 15 | Animated film specialist, or what can be found literally three times in this puzzle |
| 32% | WHATSINTHEBOXES | 15 | Question asked by a customs officer or a kid on Christmas ... with a hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| 32% | PASSNOTES | 9 | Furtively communicate in class, or what you need to do seven times in this puzzle |
| 32% | CUTFROMTHESAMECLOTH | 19 | Having similar qualities ... or what four pairs of answers in this puzzle are? |
| 31% | BUBBLESUP | 9 | Rises to the top, or what can be found in this puzzle? |
| 31% | UNDIVIDEDATTENTION | 18 | What you are giving when you contemplate this puzzle’s theme? |
| 31% | GOTTHEHOOK | 10 | Was yanked offstage ... or what four puzzle answers did, in a way |
| 31% | THREESCORE | 10 | Highest score you can ever score with a single dart in a standard game of darts (and no hints intended) |
| 31% | LIES | 4 | With 71- and 72-Across, commits perjury … or what can be found four times in this puzzle |