| 100% | HAMSTERWHEEL | 12 | Rodent amenity that’s a metaphor for unending futility |
| 52% | ABOWLOFCHERRIES | 15 | *Dish that's a metaphor for life? |
| 52% | EDEN | 4 | Garden that's a metaphor for utopia |
| 52% | ALBATROSS | 9 | Bird that's a metaphor for a burden |
| 51% | SPINE | 5 | Body part that's a metaphor for courage |
| 50% | MOLASSES | 8 | Sugar refining byproduct that's a metaphor for slowness |
| 44% | HORSE | 5 | Trojan ___, phrase from Greek mythology that's a metaphor for misleading intentions |
| 44% | STEELTRAP | 9 | Metaphor for a mind that never forgets |
| 43% | LARK | 4 | Bird that's also a metaphor for fun |
| 39% | AMORE | 5 | That's a subject for Dean Martin! |
| 38% | LONGARMOFTHELAW | 15 | Metaphor for the legal system that implies a criminal cannot hide or escape from that system's vast resources and unparalleled authority [67-Across: Police jurisdiction] |
| 38% | GLASSCLIFF | 10 | Metaphor for a high-risk leadership position that may set a woman or nonbinary person up for failure |
| 37% | YEW | 3 | Tree that's a homophone for "you" |
| 37% | YEW | 3 | Tree that's a homophone for "ewe" |
| 37% | RAT | 3 | Animal that's a symbol for snitching |
| 37% | YEW | 3 | Evergreen that's a homophone for "ewe" |
| 37% | SAGE | 4 | Herb that's a synonym for "wise" |
| 37% | APE | 3 | Primate that's a synonym for "imitate" |
| 37% | HIM | 3 | Pronoun that's a homophone for "hymn" |
| 36% | APRICOTJAM | 10 | Fruit preserve that’s a common filling for hamantaschen |
| 36% | ARE | 3 | Verb that's a homophone for a letter |
| 36% | ARIAL | 5 | Font that's a homophone for a mermaid |
| 36% | EARNEDSEAL | 10 | Mammal that's a reward for hard work? |
| 36% | BETTE | 5 | Name that's a homophone for 13-Down |
| 36% | CROW | 4 | Bird that's a pest for corn farmers |
| 36% | SHREW | 5 | Mouselike animal that’s not a rodent |
| 36% | SIRE | 4 | Title that's fit for a king |
| 36% | ATLAS | 5 | Book that's handy for a traveler |
| 36% | ACE | 3 | Card that's required for a blackjack |
| 36% | ICANNOT | 7 | "OMG, that's a lot for me" |