| 100% | BURSTINGATTHESEAMS | 18 | Overflowing, or what the words in the circles are? |
| 64% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Masterpiece waiting to be found ... or a hint to the words in the circled letters |
| 63% | TURNINGRED | 10 | Showing embarrassment ... or what the circles in three puzzle answers are literally doing |
| 62% | TEAMPLAYERS | 11 | Ones unconcerned with individual achievements ... or what both words in the answers to the starred clues are examples of |
| 61% | WARMINGUP | 9 | Getting ready to exercise ... or what the words composed of circled letters are doing when read from left to right? |
| 60% | OUTOFORDER | 10 | Like a nonfunctioning vending machine, or what the circled letters are, in two ways |
| 60% | CUTOUTOFWHOLECLOTH | 18 | Completely false, or what the letters between the circles are? |
| 58% | MIXEDBREED | 10 | Pet without papers ... or what is literally found in the circled letters |
| 58% | GOD | 3 | What each set of circled letters is, relative to the first word in its answer |
| 58% | PENTANGLES | 10 | Five-pointed stars ... or, in two words, what the sets of circles represent? |
| 57% | SPIN | 4 | With the circled word in the grid's center, what each circled word is? |
| 57% | FIFTH | 5 | With 45-Down, subversive groups ... or what the answers in the circled squares comprise? |
| 57% | CROSSREFERENCES | 15 | "See also" notations ... or what can be found in the circled squares in this puzzle? |
| 56% | MAKINGAFACE | 11 | Smirking, scowling, or smiling, and what the sets of circled letters in this puzzle are doing? |
| 56% | SHAKENBAKE | 10 | Breadcrumb coating brand ... or, as two words, what is found in the answers to starred clues |
| 56% | CORNERSTORE | 11 | Local convenience ... or a hint to the words in the circled squares |
| 56% | BACKCHANNEL | 11 | Covert means of communication ... or what's hiding in the circled letters? |
| 55% | TAILINGOFF | 10 | Waning ... or a hint to what is found by circling all the T's in the completed puzzle |
| 55% | STOCKHOLDER | 11 | Certain investor ... and, based on the word hidden in each, what 17-, 26-, 37- or 50-Across is? |
| 55% | MILKSHAKES | 10 | Diner treats ... or a hint to what's happening to the words in the circled squares in this puzzle? |
| 54% | USAGE | 5 | The way in which words are spoken or written |
| 54% | SHIPSHAPE | 9 | In perfect order ... or, as two words, what's formed by applying the answers for the five starred clues to the circled letters |
| 53% | OPENHOUSE | 9 | Realtor's big day ... or what each word in the answers to the starred clues can do |
| 53% | GREETINGCARDS | 13 | Hallmark products … or a hint to what to find in the circled squares |
| 52% | BOOK | 4 | What you find in a library, or a word which can be used at the start of 20a, 25a, 35a, 48a, 55a, 31d, and 45d |
| 52% | COUNTRIES | 9 | Sovereign lands ... or what are hidden in the answers to the six starred clues |
| 52% | TINATURNER | 10 | "The Best" singer, and what this puzzle is, in the circles |
| 52% | DARWIN | 6 | Evolution theorist ... or what the circled letters are evolving toward? |
| 52% | ACHRISTMASCAROL | 15 | Novella whose final words are found in the circled squares |
| 52% | DOWNFEATHERS | 12 | Warm winter coat contents ... or what is present in the answer to each starred clue? |