| 100% | LEAF | 4 | Preceded by 1-, 9- and 65-Across, what each circled word literally suggests |
| 38% | RHYME | 5 | What each of the longest words in 17-Across, 65-Across, 10-Down and 25-Down famously lacks |
| 37% | SPLIT | 5 | With 65-Across, chore on a winter to-do list ... and what appears in each set of circles |
| 36% | SEQUENCE | 8 | When preceded by [the circled letters], progression starting with 0 and 1 |
| 35% | RAMP | 4 | What each circled model in this puzzle ascends or descends, and what's spelled by the letters where the models cross |
| 35% | STRETCHEDTHIN | 13 | Overextended ... and what's literally in each set of circles |
| 34% | FAIRSHAKE | 9 | Equitable treatment ... and what's literally found in each set of circles |
| 34% | TEST | 4 | Any of the eight circled words in this puzzle, and what's spelled out by their intersections |
| 34% | CODENAME | 8 | 65-Across ID employed by the Secret Service, and what each starred answer is |
| 34% | MADDASH | 7 | Frantic rush, and what's literally found in each set of puzzle circles |
| 34% | APIECEOFCAKE | 12 | "Nothing to it!," and what each circled letter literally is? |
| 34% | EYE | 3 | With 65-Across, what the last words of 18-, 35- and 56-Across are to each other |
| 34% | TWISTEDSISTER | 13 | '80s hard rock quintet, and what's literally found in each set of circles |
| 34% | SPARECHANGE | 11 | Coins in one's pocket ... and what literally happens in each set of circles |
| 33% | SHIFTS | 6 | Work assignments ... and, preceded by 1-Across, the key to creating the word ladder (and part 8 of it) |
| 33% | SECRETSAUCE | 11 | Subtle element in a success story ... and what's revealed by each set of circles |
| 33% | HEADSTART | 9 | What each word in 18-, 20-, 34- and 51-Across could be considered |
| 33% | BOOKENDS | 8 | Items found on library shelves, and what are literally found in each set of circled letters |
| 32% | JOHNGRISHAMNOVEL | 16 | What the first word of each of seven answers in this puzzle is, when preceded by “The” |
| 32% | POWERPLAY | 9 | Takeover endeavor ... and a hint to what can precede each word in the answers to starred clues |
| 32% | LUNARPHASE | 10 | What's represented by each circled space and one black square in this grid |
| 32% | HIDEINPLAINSIGHT | 16 | What words concealed by the other four longest Across answers do ... and also, what each of them is |
| 31% | BENDSTHETRUTH | 13 | Is subtly misleading, or what each of 23- and 47-Across does, figuratively and literally |
| 31% | ONEND | 5 | Without a break ... or what each word in 18-, 28-, 46- and 62-Across has |
| 31% | HERES | 5 | With 1-Across and 1-Down, words preceding a new insight |
| 31% | MOUNTAINRANGE | 13 | What each set of circled letters spells ... and depicts |
| 31% | PACKSAPUNCH | 11 | Has a powerful effect, or what each of 17-, 26-, 38- and 49-Across does, literally |
| 31% | GOESUPANDDOWN | 13 | What each group of circled words in this puzzle does |
| 30% | SILVERLINING | 12 | Upside of 9-Across/65-Across ... and, chemically speaking, what each pair of circles represents |
| 30% | PARADEBALLOON | 13 | What 20-, 31- and 40-Across were each introduced as by 47-Down |