| 100% | SMS | 3 | Protocol that was first used to send the text "Merry Christmas," for short |
| 41% | NAT | 3 | Member of the baseball team that used to be the Expos, for short |
| 41% | IVORY | 5 | Brand of soap flakes that was often used in the 1920s to make fake snow for Christmas decorations |
| 40% | CLE | 3 | Ohio city that is home to the Cavs, for short |
| 40% | CLE | 3 | Ohio city that is home to the Browns of the NFL, for short |
| 39% | THISISLANDEARTH | 15 | 1955 sci-fi film that was one of the first to use Technicolor |
| 39% | PASIV | 5 | ___ Device, gadget from "Inception" that is used to enable dreams for the subject: Abbr. |
| 38% | VERTIGO | 7 | 1958 Hitchcock film that was the first to use the dolly zoom to simulate dizziness |
| 38% | OAHU | 4 | Hawaiian island that is home to Honolulu and was the setting for "50 First Dates" |
| 38% | SUTTERSMALL | 11 | Historic shopping center that was the first to be called "a gold mine for investors"? |
| 38% | JAN | 3 | New Year month to send a wish that is highlighted in this puzzle, for short |
| 38% | AOXOMOXOA | 9 | Palindromic 1969 rock album that was one of the first to use 16-track technology |
| 38% | VERTIGO | 7 | 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film that was the first to use the dolly zoom to simulate dizziness |
| 38% | INSULIN | 7 | Medicine that was first used to treat diabetes on January 11th, 1922 |
| 38% | ALABAMA | 7 | Montgomery's state that was the first US state to recognize Christmas as a holiday in 1836 |
| 37% | INDIEGOGO | 9 | Online platform that was one of the first websites to offer crowdfunding for business and personal goals |
| 37% | METS | 4 | M.L.B. team that was the first to trade a player for himself (Harry Chiti in 1962) |
| 37% | RADIO | 5 | It was used to play music for the first time in 1906 |
| 37% | MARATHON | 8 | Long race that used to be the name for Snickers |
| 36% | ASEPARATION | 11 | 2011 family drama that was the first Iranian film to win an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (2 wds.) |
| 36% | SHY | 3 | Unlikely to send the first text, perhaps |
| 36% | EMENDS | 6 | Synonym for “alters” that keeps its meaning if the first letter is changed to an “A” |
| 36% | ETHER | 5 | Anesthetic that used to be used by dentists, or a term for the sky |
| 36% | UKE | 3 | Instrument that might be used to play "Hi'ilawe," for short |
| 35% | GUAC | 4 | Dip that was first developed in Mexico, for short |
| 35% | CSS | 3 | Language that might be used to create an 8-Down, for short |
| 35% | ENVELOPE | 8 | Stationery item for sending letters that's still the symbol for "messages" and "mails" despite not being in popular use |
| 34% | COIN | 4 | Be the first to use |
| 34% | TARP | 4 | Durable sheet that could be used to protect items from rain, for short |
| 34% | SWORD | 5 | Weapon used for duels and adventures on the high seas that would be a great addition to your "Pirate" Halloween costume |