| 100% | SILENT | 6 | Like the letters omitted from the starred answers (collected here) |
| 57% | ABRIDGED | 8 | Shortened, and the letters missing from the starred answers |
| 51% | MISSINGINGREDIENT | 17 | Feature of this puzzle (hint: string together the letters omitted from the starts of 10 long answers) |
| 48% | FREE | 4 | Like the initial letters of the answers to the six starred clues, on "Wheel of Fortune" |
| 46% | PHONETIC | 8 | Like the alphabet that includes the answers to the starred clues ... and an anagram of the eight circled letters |
| 44% | REDSHIFTED | 10 | Like light from stars moving away from us ... or like the answers to this puzzle's starred clues? |
| 43% | NEWSIEST | 8 | Like the best letters from home |
| 42% | UPENDING | 8 | Toppling over, and what's missing from the starred answers |
| 42% | ODD | 3 | Like the number of letters in this answer |
| 42% | THEWHO | 6 | Rock opera pioneers, and what's missing from the starred answers |
| 41% | FAINT | 5 | Like the light from distant stars |
| 41% | DIM | 3 | Like the light from distant stars |
| 40% | DRIVEN | 6 | Like the answers to the starred clues |
| 40% | BTOB | 4 | Like intercompany trade, for short, and a hint to the starred answers |
| 40% | MASTERPIECES | 12 | Artistic triumphs, and what the starred answers are created from |
| 39% | SPUNAROUND | 10 | Like the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| 39% | ALLAY | 5 | Like a synchronized answer from the ship's crew? |
| 39% | LONERS | 6 | Single sorts, and the letters dropped from pairs in the theme answers |
| 39% | INTHERED | 8 | Owing, like the answers to the starred clues |
| 39% | YIDDISH | 7 | Language that the starred clues' answers come from |
| 38% | KARATE | 6 | Sport whose belt levels, from beginning to advanced, appear in the starred answers |
| 38% | GREEN | 5 | Like the starts of the answers to the six starred clues |
| 38% | FRUITFILLED | 11 | Like some flavorful pastries . . . or the answers to the starred clues? |
| 38% | ELOCUTIONPHRASE | 15 | Exercise in pronunciation ... like the first words of the answers to the starred clues |
| 38% | PRNDL | 5 | Gearshift letters, in the order they're shifted in the starred answers |
| 38% | ONEANDDONE | 10 | Like some NBA prospects, or like the answers to the starred clues |
| 38% | HITTHE | 6 | Words missing from the answers to the eight starred clues |
| 38% | SEWEDUP | 7 | Fixed, like the ends of the answers to starred clues |
| 38% | TEE | 3 | Sporting item shaped like the first letter of this answer |
| 38% | PEA | 3 | Garden vegetable that sounds like a letter from the alphabet |