| 100% | COLONEL | 7 | K.F.C. founder, with "the" |
| 59% | POTASSIUM | 9 | Chemical element with the symbol K |
| 59% | POTASSIUM | 9 | Element with the atomic symbol K |
| 59% | CARBON | 6 | Chemical element with the symbol C |
| 58% | FORD | 4 | Car company with the stock ticker F |
| 58% | KELVIN | 6 | Unit of temperature with the symbol K |
| 56% | KAYAK | 5 | Canoe designated with the letter K in Olympic events |
| 56% | AMINOR | 6 | Key with the same key signature as C major |
| 56% | ALPHABETTIES | 12 | Neckwear with the letters A, B, C, D, etc.? |
| 56% | RNA | 3 | Molecule with the bases G, U, A, and C |
| 55% | APPLE | 5 | Company that tangled with the F.B.I. over encryption |
| 55% | WWE | 3 | Org. that merged with the U.F.C. in 2023 |
| 55% | JORJA | 5 | English singer Smith with the 2018 début album “Lost & Found” |
| 54% | KAYAK | 5 | Canoe-like boat designated with the letter K in Olympic events |
| 54% | STYES | 5 | Afflictions that rhyme with the body parts they're found in |
| 54% | JAMES | 5 | With 6-Across, director of the F.B.I. |
| 54% | NINETEEN | 8 | With 56-Across, The New Yorker’s founding year |
| 53% | SARA | 4 | With 55-Down, corporation named after the founder's daughter |
| 53% | PSY | 3 | K-pop singer who founded the entertainment company P Nation |
| 53% | MENES | 5 | Egyptian king credited with founding the First Dynasty |
| 52% | OSLIN | 5 | K.T. with four No. 1 hits in the U.S. |
| 51% | LSD | 3 | Substance associated with the C.I.A.’s controversial MK-ULTRA mind-control program |
| 51% | CHEESE | 6 | With 45-Across, savory topping found in tubs ... and the circled squares? |
| 49% | LAB | 3 | Every member of the C.I.A.'s K-9 unit |
| 49% | EURO | 4 | Its symbol resembles a C with two lines across the center |
| 49% | BTS | 3 | K-pop band with the hit "Dynamite" |
| 49% | DFLATS | 6 | They're found by the C's |
| 49% | WYATT | 5 | Earp associated with the O.K. Corral |
| 49% | ANNIE | 5 | Musical with the song "N.Y.C." |
| 48% | LETTERS | 7 | a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l... |