| 100% | ARTY | 4 | Pretentiously cultured, and a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 88% | OBIE | 4 | Theater award ... and a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 88% | AYEAYE | 6 | "Yes, captain" ... and a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 87% | ESCAPEE | 7 | Search dogs' target ... and a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 87% | WISEOFF | 7 | Make smart remarks ... and a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 73% | WHEREWITHAL | 11 | Money ... and, in three parts, a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 71% | DROPIT | 6 | "That'll be enough of that subject" ... and a hint to solving the answers to starred clues |
| 71% | ISNOT | 5 | One side of a childish debate ... or a phonetic hint to the answers to the four starred clues |
| 69% | STANDUPCOMICS | 13 | Dave Chappelle and Dane Cook ... or a literal hint to the answers to the eight starred clues |
| 68% | EYECONTACT | 10 | Public speaker's asset, and a phonetic hint to a feature of the starred answers |
| 67% | WATER | 5 | Liquid whose chemical formula is a homophonic hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 67% | ITSADEAL | 8 | "You're on!" … and a hint to answering the seven starred clues |
| 66% | COVERTOPS | 9 | Clandestine activity, and a hint to answering the starred clues |
| 66% | ISTOO | 5 | Other side of a childish debate ... or a phonetic hint to the answers to the four double-starred clues |
| 66% | STUCKINARUT | 11 | Trapped by mundanity ... and hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 66% | THETIMES | 8 | With 38- and 52-Across, 1964 Bob Dylan song ... or a hint to the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| 65% | LASTLAUGH | 9 | Ultimate satisfaction, and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 65% | BELLBOTTOMS | 11 | Retro pants, and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 65% | HANGINTHERE | 11 | "Don't give up yet!" ... or a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 65% | DOUBLETEAM | 10 | Pass coverage tactic ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 65% | BBB | 3 | Consumer protection org., and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 64% | UPPERCASE | 9 | Caps, and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 64% | CHUCKBERRY | 10 | One of the original Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, whose name is a hint to the answers to the four starred clues |
| 64% | TURNOFPHRASE | 12 | "Nice" expression ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 64% | STOPIN | 6 | Visit briefly ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 64% | CANNEDHAMS | 10 | Spam relatives ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 64% | OPENINGACT | 10 | Show starter ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 64% | DOUBLEDOWN | 10 | Blackjack bet ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 64% | EMPTYWORDS | 10 | Blather, and a phonetic hint to the four other longest answers |
| 64% | ASP | 3 | Symbolic Egyptian snake, which includes the start of a hint to the answers to starred clues |