| 100% | TALENTED | 8 | Highly skilled, with a special ability |
| 49% | SPEARER | 7 | One skilled with a harpoon |
| 49% | MIDAS | 5 | One with a special touch |
| 49% | INDULGE | 7 | Spoil with a special treat |
| 49% | FORTUNE | 7 | __ cookie, dessert with a special message |
| 49% | SCORPS | 6 | Orgs. with a special tax designation |
| 49% | DATE | 4 | Night out with a special someone |
| 48% | JACKPARLANCE | 12 | Actor with a special way of talking? |
| 48% | POLAROID | 8 | Instant photograph taken with a special camera |
| 47% | SARDI | 5 | Big Apple restaurateur with a Special Tony Award |
| 47% | REAL | 4 | ___ ID (driver's license with a special marking) |
| 47% | OREO | 4 | Sandwich cookie with a special "Star Wars" edition |
| 46% | VIP | 3 | One with a special section at events, for short |
| 46% | LICE | 4 | Pests that might be removed with a special comb |
| 46% | LIZA | 4 | "__ With a 'Z'": 1972 TV special |
| 45% | CARD | 4 | Popular Valentine's Day gift with a special message inside |
| 45% | TAPIR | 5 | Mammal with a highly flexible nose |
| 44% | DINER | 5 | Restaurant with a blue plate special, perhaps |
| 44% | NATE | 4 | Bargatze with a new special on Netflix |
| 43% | SNL | 3 | Show with a recently aired 50th anniversary special |
| 43% | CELEBRATE | 9 | Mark a special day with a party, for example |
| 43% | DANECOOK | 8 | Performer with a self-titled HBO special in 2006 |
| 43% | TWISTER | 7 | Game played on a special mat with bright circles |
| 42% | GRIMACE | 7 | Purple character whose birthday was celebrated with a special McDonald's shake in 2023 |
| 42% | SNL | 3 | Show with a 50th anniversary special in 2025, for short |
| 42% | STALLION | 8 | A male horse with the ability to reproduce |
| 41% | BREADROLL | 9 | Baked item that might come with a lunch special (2 wds.) |
| 41% | EXPERT | 6 | Person with special knowledge in a subject |
| 40% | MAC | 3 | Big ___ (burger with a "special sauce") |
| 39% | SUPERHERO | 9 | The character with special powers in a comic book |