| 100% | NOEL | 4 | Seasonal song ... or a phonetic hint to 18-, 23-, 37-, 52- and 59-Across |
| 58% | NOELS | 5 | Seasonal songs ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 46- and 59-Across |
| 54% | ISEE | 4 | "Aha!" ... or a hint to 18-, 23-, 37-, 48- and 58-Across |
| 53% | FINALFOUR | 9 | March Madness component that's a phonetic hint to 18-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across |
| 51% | MATCHINGPJS | 11 | Some Xmas card attire ... or a hint to 18-, 23-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 51% | ARTOODETOO | 10 | "Star Wars" droid ... or a phonetic hint to what's found in 17-, 26-, 41- and 52-Across |
| 51% | CATCHINGFEELINGS | 16 | Developing a crush ... or a hint to 18-, 25-, 37-, and 52-Across? |
| 50% | AREYOUOKAY | 10 | Query of concern … or a phonetic hint to two pairs of letters appearing in 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 50% | THEEND | 6 | With 39-Across, doomsayer's assertion ... or a phonetic hint to 18-, 24-, 51- and 61-Across |
| 50% | IFIWEREYOU | 10 | Start of some advice … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 50% | ELLEWOODS | 9 | "Legally Blonde" protagonist... or a phonetic hint to 12 Across and 17 Across |
| 49% | BLUEONBLUE | 10 | 1963 Bobby Vinton hit ... or a hint to both halves of 18-, 23-, 37- and 54-Across |
| 49% | GOBETWEEN | 9 | Intermediary ... or a hint to 23-, 35-, 42- and 52-Across |
| 49% | ORCHESTRA | 9 | Musical group, or a hint to the ends of 20-, 37- and 52-Across |
| 48% | AANDW | 5 | Root beer brand, and a phonetic hint to the three vowels of 18-, 23-, 37-, 55- and 60-Across |
| 48% | OTANNENBAUM | 11 | Seasonal song with a hint to the last words in 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across |
| 47% | GOODPR | 6 | Positive media coverage, and a hint to 18-, 23-, 39-, 52- and 61-Across |
| 47% | SPINCYCLE | 9 | Washer action ... or a hint to four consecutive letters inside 18-, 23-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 47% | BBQ | 3 | Summer event, briefly ... or a phonetic hint to 19-, 26-, 47- and 53-Across |
| 47% | ATTACHE | 7 | Embassy staffer ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 49- and 59-Across? |
| 47% | BEADYEYES | 9 | Rodentlike features, and a phonetic hint to a segment of 18-, 23-, 36-, and 50-Across |
| 47% | BEACHFRONT | 10 | Property along the ocean ... or a hint to the starts of 18-, 23-, 36- and 47-Across |
| 47% | SAUSAGELINK | 11 | Breakfast side order ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 23-, 34- and 49-Across |
| 46% | MIDSIZE | 7 | Neither large nor small ... or a phonetic hint to 17-, 30-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 46% | WHEREITSAT | 10 | Happening place ... or a hint to 18-, 23-, 39- and 51-Across? |
| 45% | HUEANDCRY | 9 | Public uproar … or a phonetic hint to the two words in 17-, 28- and 48-Across? |
| 45% | DOUBLEHEADERS | 13 | Baseball rarities nowadays ... or a phonetic hint to the starts of 17-, 26-, 48- and 57-Across |
| 45% | MONEYMONEYMONEY | 15 | 1976 Abba song ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across |
| 45% | STICKEMUP | 9 | "Hands in the air!" ... or a literal hint to 17-, 23-, 37- and 46-Across |
| 45% | ROCKYSTART | 10 | Bumpy beginning ... or a hint to 18-, 24-, 36- and 52-Across |