| 100% | CADENCE | 7 | Rhythm or tempo, like in a military march |
| 45% | CHAPLAIN | 8 | Priest in a prison or military setting |
| 43% | CHAPLAIN | 8 | Priest that works in a hospital or military unit |
| 43% | SIMIAN | 6 | Like a monkey or ape in appearance |
| 43% | MARINATED | 9 | Soaked in a sauce before cooking, like meat or fish |
| 43% | OSTINATO | 8 | In music, a continuously reiterated figure or rhythm |
| 43% | ARMY | 4 | Marching military force or a synonym of "many" |
| 43% | HOT | 3 | Like a sauna or Sedona in the summer |
| 42% | EMOJI | 5 | Symbol in a text, like a birthday cake or a butterfly |
| 42% | ADJECTIVE | 9 | A describing word in grammar, like happy or hungry |
| 42% | TYPESET | 7 | Like words in a magazine or newspaper |
| 41% | HOVER | 5 | Float in place, like a helicopter or hummingbird |
| 41% | HANDBAG | 7 | Like a purse in the US, or wallet in the UK |
| 41% | SOLID | 5 | Like a cylinder or cube, in geometry |
| 40% | DEER | 4 | Like a ___ in the headlights (get paralyzed due to fear or excitement) |
| 40% | ONEEYED | 7 | Like a cyclops or some of the Minions in "Despicable Me": Hyph. |
| 40% | EXTRA | 5 | Like a 10th or 11th inning, in baseball |
| 40% | ALLA | 4 | Like in a trattoria |
| 40% | WARM | 4 | Like some welcomes, or change a letter in 39a to get the answer |
| 40% | ALONE | 5 | Like the main character in many a horror film ... or so they believe |
| 39% | NOGO | 4 | Canceled, like a mission ... or like four answers in this puzzle? |
| 39% | LOOPHOLE | 8 | A means of escape, like in a law or contract |
| 39% | TOPMOST | 7 | Highest in status or position, like a CEO |
| 39% | DOWNANDDIRTY | 12 | Done in a quick but effective manner ... or like the answers to the three starred clues? |
| 39% | DOWNANDDIRTY | 12 | Done in a quick but effective manner ... or like the answers to the three starred clues |
| 39% | OUTOFORDER | 10 | Like a nonfunctioning vending machine, or what the circled letters are, in two ways |
| 39% | OVERPAR | 7 | Like a bogey or double bogey, in golf (2 wds.) |
| 39% | PASODOBLE | 9 | Traditional Spanish dance derived from a military march |
| 38% | COVERTOPERATION | 15 | Secret military mission ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle? |
| 38% | TOY | 3 | *Plaything like a Lego set or Barbie that Santa may leave in 35a |