| 100% | SMALL | 5 | Opposite of "big,"...also the connection between 24a, 34a, 45a, 62a, 4d and 44d |
| 36% | MONEY | 5 | Medium of exchange, and the connection between 25a, 37a, 44a, 49a, 4d, 32d and 42d |
| 34% | FAYWELDON | 9 | Author of novels The Bulgari Connection and Big Women |
| 33% | FAYWELDON | 9 | Author of the novels The Bulgari Connection and Big Women |
| 32% | BLACK | 5 | — Sea, body of water between Asia and SE Europe also called the Euxine Sea |
| 31% | SNOW | 4 | Ice crystals that "fall" during wintertime, also the common factor between 18a, 21a, 34a, 42a, 53a, 3d, and 39d |
| 30% | SUMMER | 6 | Season with a solstice on the 21st of June, also the connecting factor between 24a, 38a, 49a, 6d, and 47d |
| 30% | NATO | 4 | An alliance between American and European forces, that played a big part in the occupation of Afghanistan: Abbr |
| 29% | ODD | 3 | Strange, also the opposite of an even number |
| 29% | EVIL | 4 | The opposite of sincere and moral |
| 28% | IWOJIMA | 7 | Island in the Pacific also known as Iwo To; scene of prolonged fighting between Japan and the US in World War II |
| 28% | TEENS | 5 | Between the ages of 12 and 20 |
| 28% | MORNING | 7 | The period of time between midnight and noon |
| 28% | WHOVIAN | 7 | Big fan of Amy, Rory, and the Doctor |
| 28% | MOTHERSMOTHER | 13 | The biggest and most loving of hugs, say |
| 27% | THORAX | 6 | The part of an insect between head and abdomen |
| 27% | CAIN | 4 | Big brother of Abel and Seth, in the Bible |
| 27% | WAHOO | 5 | Exclamation that's also the name of a tree, bush, and fish |
| 27% | CHANTILLY | 9 | The Big Bopper sang of __ lace and a pretty face |
| 27% | EIGHTIES | 8 | The decade of big hair, the walkman and MTV |
| 27% | STRAITOFMESSINA | 15 | Passage between Sicily and the toe of Italy |
| 27% | NORTHSEA | 8 | Body of water between the UK and Norway |
| 27% | LOIN | 4 | Cut of meat between the blade and leg |
| 27% | ASTEROID | 8 | __ Belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter |
| 27% | NORTHSEA | 8 | Body of water between the UK and Scandinavia |
| 27% | CYEARSWAR | 9 | *Conflict between the Houses of Plantagenet and Valois |
| 27% | SUBSOIL | 7 | Layer of ground between the topsoil and bedrock |
| 27% | SINAI | 5 | Land between the Gulfs of Aqaba and Suez |
| 27% | TEEN | 4 | Person between the ages of 12 and 20 |
| 27% | TEEN | 4 | One between the ages of 13 and 19 |