| 100% | THECASCADES | 11 | Range that's home to 18-Across, and a hint to solving this puzzle |
| 62% | CHANGETHESUBJECT | 16 | Switch topics, and a hint to solving this puzzle's theme answers |
| 60% | AIRLIFTS | 8 | Some special deliveries, and a hint to solving this puzzle |
| 59% | KNOCKOUTGAS | 11 | Incapacitating agent of pulp detective and sci-fi novels ... and a hint to solving this puzzle's starred clues |
| 59% | GENDER | 6 | With 43-Across, something that escapes certain categories, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 57% | WHEREARTTHOU | 12 | Question that follows "O Brother" in film ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 56% | DOWNUNDER | 9 | Nickname for 18-Across, and a hint to how four answers in this puzzle are to be entered |
| 56% | POPINJAYS | 9 | Coxcombs (and a hint to solving this puzzle) |
| 56% | SECRETMENU | 10 | Food only found by those who know, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 56% | DROPZONE | 8 | Certain delivery location, and a hint to solving six answers in this puzzle |
| 55% | DAYHIKE | 7 | Walking trip that may last from morning till evening ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 54% | CORNERBARS | 10 | Local watering holes, and a hint to a word that can follow eight of this puzzle's peripheral answers |
| 54% | SPILLTHETEA | 11 | "Give me some gossip!" ... and a hint to this puzzle's sets of circles, which affect four Across answers |
| 54% | CONDENSEDMILK | 13 | Ingredient of sweetened Thai tea, and a hint to solving some squares in this puzzle |
| 54% | MMM | 3 | "Delicious!" ... and a hint to every Across answer in this puzzle |
| 52% | LEFTRIGHT | 9 | With 64-Across, the political spectrum, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 52% | SECRET | 6 | With 37-Across, Election Day practice ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 52% | KEEPITPG | 8 | "Tone down that PDA, there are kids around," and a hint to five answers in this puzzle |
| 52% | SEE | 3 | With 70- and 71-Across, agree ... and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 52% | CREW | 4 | With 65-Across, private dos, and a hint to this puzzle's five theme answers |
| 52% | INOVERTIME | 10 | When some contests are resolved, and a hint to ending this puzzle's theme answers |
| 52% | NANNY | 5 | After 1-Across, skilled childcare worker ... and a hint to putting together this puzzle's circles |
| 51% | TILTA | 5 | With 37-Across, spinning amusement ride, and a hint to this puzzle's design and circled letters |
| 51% | HEAT | 4 | With 53-Across, weather phenomenon with trapped warmth, and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters |
| 51% | PARESDOWN | 9 | Gradually trims … or a phonetic second hint to solving this puzzle's theme |
| 51% | GREATWALL | 9 | Landmark that, in a way, is a border feature of this puzzle and a hint to what's missing from 10 answers |
| 51% | LETDOWNYOURHAIR | 15 | Words to Rapunzel, and a hint to solving four puzzle answers |
| 51% | BANDB | 5 | Place to stay, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 51% | MINDYOURPSANDQS | 15 | "Behave!" ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 51% | UPLIFTS | 7 | Elates, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |