| 100% | REFINE | 6 | Improve engineers with penalty |
| 48% | CONFINE | 7 | Incarcerate prisoner with penalty |
| 43% | RESPITE | 7 | Break engineers with malice |
| 43% | HINGE | 5 | Pushing engineers with joint |
| 42% | ERODE | 5 | Wear down engineer with poem |
| 42% | HONE | 4 | Improve with effort |
| 41% | SWEETEN | 7 | Improve dessert with directions |
| 41% | SWEETEN | 7 | Improve dessert with dash |
| 41% | TUNE | 4 | Improve with a fork |
| 41% | HOKES | 5 | Improves superficially, with “up” |
| 40% | AGE | 3 | Improve with time, as wine |
| 40% | SPIFF | 5 | Improve in appearance, with "up" |
| 40% | SCOTTY | 6 | Engineer concerned with dilithium crystals |
| 40% | AGED | 4 | Improved with time, as wine |
| 40% | AGES | 4 | Improves with time, like wine |
| 40% | AGED | 4 | Improved with time, as cheese |
| 39% | SWEETEN | 7 | Improve messy nest with contradictory directions |
| 39% | ERIE | 4 | With 33 Across, 1820s engineering marvel |
| 39% | BOOSTING | 8 | Improving mood with words of encouragement |
| 39% | AMERCES | 7 | Punishes with arbitrary penalties |
| 39% | NHL | 3 | Org. with icing penalties |
| 39% | GLOW | 4 | Log improved with shine |
| 38% | LATE | 4 | With 36 Down, library patron's penalty |
| 38% | AGE | 3 | Improve with time, as at a winery |
| 38% | TESLA | 5 | Engineer who worked with AC current, Nikola ___ |
| 38% | AMERCE | 6 | Punish with an arbitrary penalty |
| 38% | CREATED | 7 | Made cadet work with engineers |
| 38% | AGED | 4 | Allowed to improve with time |
| 38% | PLANS | 5 | Alps improve with new maps |
| 38% | HANDICAPRACE | 12 | Equine contest with weight penalties |