| 100% | AMES | 4 | Jonathan ___, creator of HBO's "Bored to Death" and part time boxer known as "The Herring Wonder" |
| 36% | DVI | 3 | The year known at the time as the "Year of the Consulship of Messala and Dagalaiphus", to Latin speakers |
| 32% | MUSEUM | 6 | ___ of Science and Industry, science center in Chicago built as part of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, that was meant to be temporary |
| 31% | ELVIS | 5 | Presley, known as the king of rock and roll |
| 31% | ELVIS | 5 | Presley known as the King of Rock and Roll |
| 30% | SNAPCHAT | 8 | Popular mobile app ... and, as shown by circles, what the inner parts of the answers to starred clues do |
| 30% | KENNEDY | 7 | Statesman Edward (also known as Ted) who, at the time of his death in 2009, was the fourth-longest-serving senator in US history |
| 30% | ELVISPRESLEY | 12 | Musician known as the King of Rock and Roll (2 wds.) |
| 30% | FDA | 3 | Grp. known as the Bureau of Chemistry from 1901 to 1927 |
| 30% | DOWNTOWN | 8 | Area known as the main part of a city in the US |
| 30% | MADRID | 6 | European capital known as the city of "Bear and the Strawberry Tree" |
| 30% | SEN | 3 | Sun Yat-___, known as the "Father of the Nation" to most Chinese |
| 30% | TOCHERISH | 9 | To love and __, part of the wedding vows |
| 30% | EUGENE | 6 | West Coast city known as the Track and Field Capital of the World |
| 30% | LAOS | 4 | Nation once known as the Kingdom of the Million Elephants and White Parasol |
| 29% | DISAPPEARINGACT | 15 | Part of a magic show, and the key to understanding this puzzle's one-word clues |
| 29% | IMA | 3 | Words repeated as part of the chorus to Meredith Brooks's 1997 hit "Bitch" |
| 29% | PRESLEY | 7 | The singer known as the King of Rock and Roll |
| 29% | QUINOA | 6 | Foodstuff known as "mother of all grains" to the Inca |
| 29% | HEADSTART | 9 | Racer's advantage ... and what each part of the answers to starred clues can be |
| 29% | MADONNA | 7 | Singer from the U.S. who is known as the "Queen of Pop" and is the best-selling female artist of all time |
| 29% | SHONDARHIMES | 12 | Creator of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" … or, when said aloud, a hint to the starts of 20-, 30 and 45-Across |
| 29% | MERA | 4 | Member of the Extended DC Universe who is known to be the queen of the sea and is also a part of the Justice League |
| 29% | HENAO | 5 | Zulay ___, "Boy Wonder" actress who served in the military as part of the U.S. Army |
| 28% | MEDIEVAL | 8 | Pertaining to the time of castles and knights |
| 28% | TINA | 4 | ___ Turner, singer known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" who we pay tribute to in 2023 |
| 28% | OPAL | 4 | Gemstone that's often polished to an oval ... and has three of the same letters as "oval" |
| 28% | ALI | 3 | Boxer known as the "Louisville Lip" |
| 28% | KETO | 4 | Diet that's high in fats and low in carbs, as illustrated by parts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 28% | ERA | 3 | Cenozoic ___ (ancient time span known as the Age of Mammals) |