| 100% | GRAVEYARDSHIFT | 14 | Late night for a working stiff ... or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 62% | GROWINGPAINS | 12 | Early struggles for a new enterprise … or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 57% | BOXED | 5 | With 44-Across, Valentine's Day gift ... or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 56% | ASABOVE | 7 | With 41-Across, philosophical principle in which Earth mirrors heaven … or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 55% | ROLLTHEDICE | 11 | Take a chance ... or a hint to the letters in the shaded squares |
| 54% | SCOOPEDUP | 9 | Eagerly obtained ... or a hint to the contents of this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 53% | BUMPERCROPS | 11 | Bountiful harvests for farmers … or another hint to the crossings of shaded squares |
| 53% | ARTFORMS | 8 | Various creative mediums ... or a hint to variations found in the shaded squares |
| 53% | GREEKCROSS | 10 | Religious symbol resembling a plus sign ... or a hint to the three groups of shaded squares in this puzzle |
| 51% | TENTOONEODDS | 12 | Big payout potential ... or a hint to the words in the shaded squares (and the clue numbers on which they begin!) |
| 51% | FINALSWEEK | 10 | Period for taking exams ... or a hint to the pattern shown in the last three or four letters of the asterisked answers |
| 50% | ITSALOTTOUNPACK | 15 | "So many layers here" … or a hint to the circled squares |
| 49% | FRANKENFOOD | 11 | Lab-engineered fare, facetiously … or a hint to the six crossings of shaded squares |
| 49% | TEALEAVES | 9 | Divination aids … or a phonetic hint to the shaded squares in this puzzle |
| 49% | WEBOFLIES | 9 | It's spun by mendacious people ... or a hint to the shaded answers |
| 48% | JUMPSUITS | 9 | Garments similar to rompers … with a hint to the shaded squares in this puzzle |
| 48% | ESCAPEACT | 9 | Houdini’s signature feat … or a hint to the circled squares in this puzzle |
| 47% | CORNERSTORE | 11 | Local convenience ... or a hint to the words in the circled squares |
| 47% | CRYUNCLE | 8 | Concede ... or a hint to the last words of the answers to starred clues |
| 46% | ANIMAL | 6 | With 56-Across, lunchbox snacks ... or a hint to the black squares before 18-, 29-, 35- and 45-Across? |
| 46% | YOUNG | 5 | With 68-Across, still feeling like a teenager, say ... or a hint to the answers with shading |
| 46% | TICKALLTHEBOXES | 15 | Be fully qualified ... or a hint to interpreting this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 46% | GREETINGCARDS | 13 | Hallmark products … or a hint to what to find in the circled squares |
| 46% | TALLORDER | 9 | Big ask ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 46% | DOWNTHEPIPE | 11 | How a perfect pitch comes ... or a hint to the missing parts of the shaded answers |
| 46% | PANDG | 5 | Consumer products giant, for short ... or a hint to the answers to the eight starred clues |
| 46% | SPLITENDS | 9 | Hair challenge … or a hint to the last words of 17-, 25-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 46% | BOOBYTRAPS | 10 | Dangers for the unwary ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23- and 47-Across? |
| 46% | SPOONBENDING | 12 | Display of mentalism ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 45% | RIGHTYTIGHTY | 12 | With 36-Across, mnemonic device for turning 54-Across … or a hint to the answers to the starred clues |