| 100% | CONNECTSTHEDOTS | 15 | Makes sense of a situation ... and, literally, what the quartet of answers to starred clues does |
| 61% | DROPCAP | 7 | Large letter at the beginning of a paragraph, and what you must do to make sense of each starred answer |
| 59% | MAKESWAVES | 10 | Causes a ruckus, and what the end of each answer to the starred clues does |
| 58% | CUTTHECARDS | 11 | Prepare a deck before dealing, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |
| 58% | DROPINS | 7 | Unexpected guests, and what you'll have to do to make sense of the starred answers |
| 57% | HUMBLEBEGINNINGS | 16 | Part of a rags-to-riches story, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have |
| 57% | GETCRACKING | 11 | Make a start, and what you might do to the ends of the starred answers |
| 57% | TRIMTHETREE | 11 | Decorate for Christmas, in a way, and how to make sense of the answer to each starred clue? |
| 57% | PHOTOFINISH | 11 | End of a close race ... and what the last part of the answers to starred clues can literally be |
| 56% | STARTUPBUSINESS | 15 | Fledgling enterprise ... and what the first word of the answers to starred clues can literally do |
| 54% | SKMIPLSSTNONTES | 15 | *Makes splashes at the shore ... and what each answer to a starred clue does |
| 54% | TAKETHE | 7 | With 62-Across, 1976 Steve Miller Band hit, and what you do to make the answers to the starred clues make sense |
| 54% | FALLBACK | 8 | "Spring forward" partner (a reminder for November 5th) ... and what the last word of each answer to a starred clue can literally have |
| 53% | PIGOUT | 6 | Ingurgitate, and a hint to making sense of the starred clues |
| 53% | ADDUP | 5 | Make sense, and a hint to the answers to the starred clues |
| 53% | CUTTHECARBS | 11 | Dieting advice, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |
| 53% | RAINOUT | 7 | Ballpark bummer, and a hint to making sense of the starred answers |
| 53% | BOTTOMSHEET | 11 | Bed cover ... or, literally, what the end of each answer to a starred clue is |
| 53% | PENNAME | 7 | Pseudonym ... and what the end of each answer to a starred clue is |
| 53% | FIRESIDES | 9 | Warm, cozy places ... and a hint to what can precede both parts of the answers to starred clues |
| 53% | BREAKASTORY | 11 | What an investigative journalist might do, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |
| 53% | ENDGAME | 7 | Last stage of a chess match, and what each answer to a starred clue literally has |
| 53% | FILLONESSHOES | 13 | Step in for another, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |
| 53% | BREAKSITALLDOWN | 15 | Explains in meticulous detail, and what the answer to each starred clue literally does? |
| 52% | DEBUG | 5 | Work on software, and work to make sense of the answers to the starred clues? |
| 52% | OOHS | 4 | Cries of delight, and what each of the answers to the starred clues literally are? |
| 52% | WAYTOGO | 7 | Cry of approval ... and what the end of each answer to a starred clue is |
| 52% | TAKEOUTTHETRASH | 15 | What to do before the answers to the starred clues will make sense |
| 52% | GOGREEN | 7 | Make ecologically sound decisions, and a hint to what the starred answers do |
| 52% | WINTERENDS | 10 | What happens on March 20, 2022, at 11:33 a.m. ... and what both parts of the answers to starred clues are |