| 100% | ELUC | 4 | Letters which one will have to unjumble to mean a spy's lead or "clue" |
| 86% | BROPE | 5 | Letters which one will have to unjumble to mean a spy's thorough investigation or "probe" |
| 81% | LETIN | 5 | Letters which one will have to unjumble to mean information a spy collects or "intel" |
| 35% | TAPE | 4 | Word after "mix" to mean a handmade playlist of music on a cassette or CD that has been "lost" to time |
| 35% | APTAGRAM | 8 | Word or phrase whose letters can be rearranged to form another with a similar meaning, such as “moon starer” for “astronomer” |
| 35% | HOLDDOWNTHEFORT | 15 | Have charge temporarily ... or a hint to answering this puzzle's three starred clues |
| 33% | MAKESENSE | 9 | To be easy to understand, have a clear meaning |
| 33% | TICKET | 6 | Token or pass that a passenger would have to purchase to travel on 44d |
| 33% | OSCAR | 5 | (With 13-Across) "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go" |
| 33% | BEARDGROWTH | 11 | Why one might have to shave, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 33% | CHANGESTHEWORLD | 15 | Has a huge impact ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters |
| 32% | DOLLARSANDCENTS | 15 | Money ... or a hint to how six crossings in this puzzle are to be represented, superimposing one letter over another |
| 32% | SCIENCE | 7 | "___ is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it": Einstein |
| 32% | LETTER | 6 | Medium via which one would have conveyed their romantic feelings to their beloved in olden times |
| 32% | PERSONALITY | 11 | You might think that a new one will lead to 40-Across |
| 32% | LINING | 6 | Clouds are said to have a silver one |
| 32% | STOP | 4 | In bridge, a protecting card or winner in a suit in which one's opponents are strong |
| 32% | THEREVIEWSAREIN | 15 | "Critics have spoken"... or a hint to what's been added to this puzzle's themed answers |
| 32% | VERBOSE | 7 | Denoting the style in which one might consider this clue to be written |
| 32% | TAKEITDOWNANOTCH | 16 | Reduce one’s excitement slightly ... or what you have to do to the final letter of five long answers in this puzzle? |
| 32% | FORTYNINERS | 11 | Old rush participants ... or a three-part hint to what can be found in this puzzle's grid or clues |
| 32% | BEE | 3 | You have to be letter-perfect to win one |
| 32% | BEDSIDE | 7 | __ manner, doctors are meant to exhibit a good one |
| 32% | LINING | 6 | Every cloud is supposed to have a silver one |
| 32% | NOODLE | 6 | Ramen or pasta piece ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 31% | GIVEITAREST | 11 | "Enough already!" or what one may do to each answer to a starred clue |
| 31% | MANSPREADS | 10 | Crowds one's seatmates, in a way ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 31% | TURNEDTHETABLES | 15 | Regained one's winning status ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters |
| 31% | SEAL | 4 | Envelope-closing wax one would have used in olden times to lock a 46a |
| 31% | INCH | 4 | One-twelfth of a foot or unit in which rainfall is measured |