| 100% | SPORK | 5 | It's a portmanteau, but not for "salt pork" |
| 81% | SKORT | 5 | It's a portmanteau, but not for "ski resort" |
| 81% | SMOG | 4 | It's a portmanteau, but not for "small dog" |
| 51% | FAD | 3 | It's in, but not for long |
| 51% | ONEOVERPAR | 10 | It's not bad for a duffer |
| 51% | SQUAREPEG | 9 | It's not meant for a 3-Down |
| 47% | ODDEST | 6 | Adjective for a "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" feature |
| 47% | NIGHT | 5 | A strange thing, but it's time for bed |
| 46% | LACK | 4 | "It's not for a ___ of trying" |
| 46% | YOUDBESETONSTUNNING | 19 | "I know it's not my business, but if you were a laser ..." |
| 45% | ASH | 3 | It's flicked from a cigar but not a pipe |
| 45% | EEYORE | 6 | "It's not much of a tail, but I'm sort of attached to it" speaker |
| 45% | EEYORE | 6 | “It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it” speaker |
| 45% | ASH | 3 | It's flicked from a cigarette but not a vape pen |
| 45% | ASH | 3 | It's flicked from a cigarette but not an e-cigarette |
| 44% | MIDDLEMARCH | 11 | George Eliot novel that's not the contest answer, but provides a hint to it |
| 43% | HAIRBRUSH | 9 | Use this to style locks, but it's not a comb |
| 43% | ERROR | 5 | It spoils a perfect game, but not a no-hitter |
| 42% | LYRE | 4 | Instrument for a muse, but not for Muse |
| 42% | GFORCE | 6 | It's a draw for astronauts |
| 42% | ACRE | 4 | It's a lot, for some |
| 42% | CHEETAH | 7 | A type of big cat, it purrs but does not roar |
| 42% | EEYORE | 6 | Kid-lit character who says, "It's not much of a tail, but I'm sort of attached to it" |
| 42% | BEER | 4 | It may have a head but not a tail |
| 42% | JETSTREAM | 9 | It's a blast for some balloonists |
| 41% | ACTUALITY | 9 | It's not a dream |
| 41% | MAYBE | 5 | It's not a lock |
| 41% | KOALA | 5 | It's not a bear |
| 41% | MISS | 4 | It's not a hit |
| 41% | YES | 3 | It's not a no |