| 100% | CROPCIRCLES | 11 | Mysterious phenomena … or a clue to solving 17-, 24-, 33- and 45-Across |
| 53% | MIDDLENAME | 10 | What 50-Across is ... or a clue to 17-, 29-, 35- and 45-Across |
| 47% | SMARTSTART | 10 | Kellogg's antioxidants cereal, and a clue to 17-, 24-, 31-, 45- and 51-Across |
| 45% | FIVEIRONS | 9 | Fairway clubs ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to 17-, 24- and 45-Across and 10- and 37-Down |
| 45% | GETLOST | 7 | Scram ... or a hint to solving 17-, 20-, 50- and 57-Across and 11- and 28-Down |
| 44% | NOGO | 4 | Canceled ... or a hint to answering 17-, 27-, 34-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 44% | MIDSIZE | 7 | Neither large nor small ... or a phonetic hint to 17-, 30-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 43% | THEPLOTTHICKENS | 15 | "Now things are getting interesting" ... or a hint to the first words of 17-, 24-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 43% | ITSMEAGAIN | 10 | "I'm back!" … or a hint to 17-, 24-, 38- and 51- Across |
| 43% | GRADEINFLATION | 14 | Modern educational phenomenon ... or a hint to 20-, 29-, 38- and 45-Across |
| 42% | HEADPHONES | 10 | They bring music to one's ears ... or a hint to 17-, 21-, 33-, 45- and 54-Across |
| 42% | ELLEWOODS | 9 | "Legally Blonde" protagonist... or a phonetic hint to 12 Across and 17 Across |
| 42% | INSIDEDOPE | 10 | Lowdown ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 53-Across |
| 42% | MONEYMARKET | 11 | Mutual fund variety, or a punny place to buy 17-, 24-, 38- and 50-Across |
| 41% | BYEBYEBYE | 9 | 2000 'N Sync hit ... or a hint to 17-, 26- and 45-Across |
| 41% | MIDDLEMAN | 9 | Go-between, and a clue to 17-, 24-, 49- and 57-Across |
| 41% | KEYWEST | 7 | Florida island ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 52- and 65-Across |
| 41% | HEADFAKE | 8 | Basketball feint ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 46-Across? |
| 41% | ONTHEDOUBLE | 11 | Quickly … and a hint to 17-, 24-, 45- and 55-Across |
| 40% | HORSEPLAY | 9 | Roughhousing ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 21-, 26-, 33-, 40-, 43-, 47- and 56-Across |
| 40% | NOTHINGDOING | 12 | "Forget about it!" ... or a clue to the starts of 20-, 27- and 47-Across |
| 40% | IFIWEREYOU | 10 | Start of some advice … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 40% | COMEDYCENTRAL | 13 | Popular cable network ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 47- and 56-Across |
| 40% | STARTINGQB | 10 | Brady or Mahomes, and a hint to 17-, 31-, 37- and 45-Across |
| 40% | LETSHAVESOMEFUN | 15 | "It's party time!" ... or a hint to 17-, 24- and 40-Across |
| 40% | ONYOURFEET | 10 | Jukebox musical featuring Gloria Estefan songs, or where to find the ends of 17-Across and 10-, 24-, and 33-Down |
| 39% | THEBLUES | 8 | Something to sing ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 31-, 40- and 45-Across's starts |
| 39% | SIGNFORDELIVERY | 15 | Accept a package formally ... or a hint to 17-, 29-, 45- and 62-Across? |
| 39% | APPEALING | 9 | Winsome ... or like the ends of 17-, 24-, 51- and 58-Across, to a punster? |
| 38% | FINANCIALMYTHS | 14 | Misconceptions about money ... or a loose hint to 20-, 24- and 44-Across? |