| 100% | NOQUARTER | 9 | Mercilessly harsh treatment, in an expression … or a hint to entering 117-Across |
| 48% | RIGHTONCUE | 10 | Prompt ... or a hint to entering five answers in this puzzle |
| 48% | ONEUP | 5 | Outdo ... or a hint to entering four answers in this puzzle |
| 47% | RAISETHEBAR | 11 | Heighten expectations, say ... or a hint to entering four answers in this puzzle |
| 46% | ENDSUPONTOP | 11 | Prevails eventually … or a hint to entering the answers to the six starred clues in this puzzle |
| 45% | PIECESOFEIGHT | 13 | Pirate plunder ... or a hint to interpreting an appropriate number of squares in this puzzle |
| 44% | TURNONADIME | 11 | Pivot without warning … or a hint to entering 19-Across |
| 43% | FLIPONESLID | 11 | Go crazy ... or a hint on how to enter five answers in this puzzle |
| 42% | DOTTHEI/DOTS | 12 | Attend to details ... or a hint to entering six Down answers in this puzzle |
| 42% | ZIP | 3 | Nothing ... or a hint to what's hidden in 20-, 35- and 52-Across |
| 42% | DIVEBAR | 7 | Seedy hangout ... or a hint to finishing four Across answers in this puzzle |
| 41% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 41% | FRENCHTWIST | 11 | Classic hairstyle ... or a hint to the puns in 17-, 25-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 41% | AUPAIRS | 7 | Live-in workers ... or a hint to 14, 18, 32, and 51 Across |
| 41% | STRETCHTHETRUTH | 15 | Exaggerate ... or a hint to five nonconsecutive letters in 20-Across, 36-Across and 7-Down |
| 41% | TAKETHEL | 8 | Accept defeat, in modern parlance … or a hint to entering five answers in this puzzle |
| 41% | LANGUAGEBARRIER | 15 | Foreigner's obstacle ... or a hint to hidden words in 17-, 29-, 37- and 49-Across |
| 41% | CODESWITCHING | 13 | Speaking Spanglish, say ... or a hint to what's hidden in 20-, 28- and 48-Across |
| 40% | DONTTAKEANYOF | 13 | With 33-Down, Skeptic's advice ... or a "noteworthy" hint to seven Across answers in this puzzle |
| 40% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 40% | THEBIGAPPLE | 11 | Empire State Building locale ... or a hint to three letters in 16-, 19-, 52- and 57-Across |
| 40% | PARTWO | 6 | Common miniature golf goal ... or a hint to what's found in 17-, 39- and 60-Across |
| 40% | RINGOFFIRE | 10 | 17-Across hit ... or a hint to four connected answers in this puzzle |
| 40% | FIRST | 5 | With 5-Across, baby's milestone ... or a hint to the hidden layer in this puzzle's Across clues |
| 40% | ITGOESUPANDDOWN | 15 | How life is like the ocean, or a hint to entering the starred answers |
| 40% | XMARKSTHESPOT | 13 | Treasure hunt phrase ... or a hint to seven Across answers |
| 40% | DOUBLECROSS | 11 | Betray ... or a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 40% | YES | 3 | "That's correct" ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 28-, 45- and 59-Across, in different languages |
| 40% | KEEPITBETWEENUS | 15 | "Let this be our little secret" … or a hint to letter sequences hidden in 16-, 32- and 40-Across |
| 39% | ITSMEAGAIN | 10 | "I'm back!" … or a hint to 17-, 24-, 38- and 51- Across |