| 100% | PIRIPIRI | 8 | Repetitive name and spelling for a hot pepper |
| 52% | PIRIPIRI | 8 | Repetitive name for hot pepper; popular sauce |
| 52% | HABANERO | 8 | Hot pepper named for a Caribbean capital |
| 49% | TABASCO | 7 | Hot sauce brand named for a Mexican pepper |
| 42% | HER | 3 | Singer nominated for Album of the Year Grammys in 2019 and 2020 (and whose name spells a pronoun) |
| 41% | TEATIME | 7 | Break for a snack and hot beverage |
| 40% | CAROLINAREAPERS | 15 | Extremely hot peppers named for their scythelike tails |
| 40% | TABASCO | 7 | Pepper named for a state |
| 39% | DANISH | 6 | A Nordic nationality and name for sweet pastries |
| 39% | ALEPPO | 6 | Pepper named for a Syrian city |
| 39% | HABANERO | 8 | Hot chili pepper named for Cuba's capital city |
| 39% | BANQUETTE | 9 | Name for a bench that's long and upholstered |
| 38% | TEAROSE | 7 | Thorny flower named for a hot drink |
| 38% | PALOMA | 6 | Spanish for dove, and a girls' name |
| 38% | CAYENNE | 7 | Hot red pepper named after a city in French Guiana |
| 38% | SCOTCHBONNET | 12 | Pepper named for its resemblance to a tam-o'-shanter |
| 37% | CHIPOTLE | 8 | Chain named for a smoked chili pepper |
| 37% | CHIMNEY | 7 | Channel for hot air and smoke to leave a fireplace |
| 37% | NMI | 3 | Abbr. for someone with just a first and last name |
| 37% | NMI | 3 | Abbr. for someone with only a first and last name |
| 37% | COCACOLA | 8 | Beverage named for a leaf and a nut |
| 36% | HABANERO | 8 | Pepper named for a city in which it was widely traded |
| 36% | PIMA | 4 | Native people for whom a cotton and a county are named |
| 36% | FIRENADO | 8 | Another name for a whirlwind of flames and ash |
| 36% | LUTHIER | 7 | Proper name for a maker of guitars and lutes |
| 36% | STUDFINDER | 10 | Good name for a dating site full of hot dudes? |
| 35% | JAMESBEARD | 10 | Chef and cookbook writer for whom a culinary award is named (2 wds.) |
| 35% | GABBYGIFFORDS | 13 | Gun control advocate and former congresswoman for whom a naval ship is named |
| 35% | SALON | 5 | "Curl Up and Dye" is a punny name for one |
| 35% | FIVEGUYS | 8 | *Burger chain named for a father and his sons |