| 100% | VIOLINIST | 9 | One who takes a bow? (see 19-Down for a hint to the circles) |
| 68% | VIEWPOINT | 9 | Perspective (see 19-Down for a hint to the circles) |
| 51% | SHIFT | 5 | With 100-Down, change one's approach, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 48% | BOOKENDS | 8 | Supports for some volumes, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 48% | MANSPREADS | 10 | Crowds one's seatmates, in a way ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 48% | EXTREMEMEASURES | 15 | Desperate situations call for them, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 47% | BEARDGROWTH | 11 | Why one might have to shave, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 46% | RISINGSEALEVELS | 15 | One effect of global warming, and a hint to the five longest Down answers |
| 46% | ASTHEWORLDTURNS | 15 | TV soap for 54 years ... and a hint to the puzzle circles |
| 45% | LATEBLOOMER | 11 | One who catches up eventually ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 30- and 46-Across |
| 44% | VIOLIST | 7 | One who takes a bow |
| 44% | ARCHER | 6 | One who takes a bow? |
| 44% | PLANETARY | 9 | With 36-Down, astronomical rarity ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | SQUARE | 6 | With 31-Down, hoedown activities, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | SINKING | 7 | With 43-Down, uneasy anticipation ... and a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | MIDDLEAGE | 9 | Crisis time, for some ... or a hint to each of the circled words |
| 44% | RISING | 6 | With 61-Down, global warming consequence, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | CHANGEDIRECTION | 15 | Take a different route, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | IMONAROLL | 9 | "Things could not be going better for me!" ... or a hint to the placement of the circled letters |
| 43% | PAGETURNER | 10 | You may not need a bookmark for one ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| 42% | EROS | 4 | One who takes a bow before success rather than after? |
| 42% | MIXEDGREENS | 11 | Mesclun, and a hint to the circled squares |
| 42% | STATIONBREAKS | 13 | Commercials, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 42% | SETTINGBACK | 11 | Delaying, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 42% | FINALSWEEK | 10 | Period for taking exams ... or a hint to the pattern shown in the last three or four letters of the asterisked answers |
| 42% | GOFIRST | 7 | Lead off ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 42% | MIXEDMESSAGES | 13 | Confusing statements ... and a hint to the circled letters |
| 42% | GRAINELEVATOR | 13 | Agrarian structure, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 42% | DIAMONDHEAD | 11 | Hawaiian landmark, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 42% | HIDDENEMOTIONS | 14 | Repressed feelings, and a hint to the circled letters |