| 100% | DETECTIVESTORY | 14 | Literary genre often associated with the writer concealed in 16-, 32- and 40-Across |
| 40% | CLUE | 4 | Game associated with the starts of 17-, 23-, 32-, 40-, 47- and 54-Across |
| 34% | KEEPITBETWEENUS | 15 | "Let this be our little secret" … or a hint to letter sequences hidden in 16-, 32- and 40-Across |
| 30% | BRANDON | 7 | With 40-Across, science fiction and fantasy writer known for the series "Mistborn," "The Reckoners," and 10-Across |
| 30% | ZAKIYA | 6 | With 15 and 16 Across, writer with the 2021 debut novel "The Other Black Girl" |
| 30% | WHATATIME | 9 | With 16 Across, exclamation from one living in the moment |
| 30% | RACHELCARSON | 12 | "Silent Spring" writer and namesake of the international environmental award won by 32-Across in 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 29% | SAINTLOUIS | 10 | Midwest city on the Mississippi River that hosted the 16-Across and the 32-Across in 1904 (2 wds.) |
| 29% | THREELITTLEPIGS | 15 | Homeowners associated with the ends of 17-, 28- and 43-Across |
| 29% | BRENDALEE | 9 | Artist with the third most Top 40 hits in the 1960s, behind Elvis and the Beatles |
| 29% | ALCHEMY | 7 | Activity associated with the word ladder formed by 1-, 10-, 70- and 72-Across |
| 29% | TYLER | 5 | With 32-Across, entertainment mogul who partnered with Oprah to bring his series "The Haves and the Have Nots" to OWN in 2013 |
| 28% | RHYMING | 7 | Like 17-, 26-, 40-, 51- and 64-Across, with respect to the numbers in their clues |
| 28% | MILEY | 5 | With 32-Across, "Party in the U.S.A." singer who was both the host and musical guest on 2013 and 2015 "SNL" episodes |
| 28% | ANGEL | 5 | With 32-Across, season-leading scorer and rebounder for the 2023 champion 40-Across |
| 28% | THEBIGBADWOLF | 13 | Fairy tale villain associated with the ends of 20-, 27- and 49-Across |
| 28% | ABILENE | 7 | University city in Texas associated with the agriculture and petroleum industries |
| 28% | ELENA | 5 | With 32-Across and 50-Across, Washington Mystics star who reached the 50-40-90 club (50% field goal, 40% three-point field goal, and 90% free throw shooting percentages) in 2019, the first WNBA player to do so |
| 28% | MARK | 4 | ___ Twain, famous author who was friends with the scientist Nikola Tesla and often spent time in his lab |
| 28% | LEO | 3 | With 16-Across, "War and Peace" writer |
| 28% | DONOVAN | 7 | With 40-Across, 30-Across/48-Across running back who rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship |
| 28% | GLAM | 4 | Glittery rock genre associated with David Bowie in the 1970s |
| 28% | DONTBIGEMPTY | 12 | With 45 Across, a query put to Bob Hope in 1939's The Cat and the Canary |
| 28% | ETTU | 4 | Phrase associated with the 18 Across |
| 28% | JAPAN | 5 | Country associated with the 🇯🇵, 💴, and 🗾 emoji |
| 28% | NOBEL | 5 | With 32- and 38-Across, 2014 honor won by the writer of 15-Across |
| 28% | TONIGHTSHOWHOST | 15 | TV personality hidden in the answers to 16-, 22-, 32-, 41- and 47-Across |
| 28% | JAFFA | 5 | Ancient port in Israel associated with the mythological story of Andromeda and Perseus |
| 28% | SCOTTJOPLIN | 11 | US pianist and composer associated with the ragtime style who died in 1917 |
| 27% | READING | 7 | With 40-Across, library activity in the Thames Valley? |