| 100% | OCTAGON | 7 | Shape of 96-Across suggested by this puzzle's special squares |
| 55% | BALLOON | 7 | Party staple suggested by connecting this puzzle's special squares |
| 54% | BEETHOVENSFIFTH | 15 | Work suggested by this puzzle's circled and shaded squares |
| 53% | UTAHSTATE | 9 | University suggested by this puzzle's black squares |
| 53% | DOUBLEDOUBLE | 12 | Basketball feat suggested by this puzzle's pairs of theme answers, informally |
| 52% | PENTOMINOES | 11 | Complete set of 12 shapes formed by this puzzle's black squares |
| 51% | DAYBREAK | 8 | First light ... or a phenomenon suggested by this puzzle's seven sets of circled letters? |
| 51% | PARTY | 5 | Event suggested by this puzzle's circled squares, read clockwise from the top |
| 49% | CONGRATULATIONS | 15 | First part of a message suggested by this puzzle's circled letters |
| 48% | BUTTERFLYEFFECT | 15 | Subject of this puzzle, as suggested visually by its central black squares |
| 48% | TWOPEASINAPOD | 13 | Almost twins ... as suggested by this puzzle's circled squares? |
| 48% | KENKEN | 6 | Newspaper puzzle suggested by this crossword's shaded squares |
| 48% | GOESFORASPIN | 12 | Drives around awhile ... as suggested by this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 47% | CONNECTTHEDOTS | 14 | Kind of puzzle suggested by this crossword's theme |
| 47% | DOUBLEO | 7 | Feature of this puzzle's circled squares that, when connected by a single line, visually represents 111-Across |
| 47% | MUSHROOM | 8 | Its shape is depicted by this puzzle's white squares |
| 47% | JULES | 5 | With 49-Across, author of the novel suggested by this puzzle's theme; the movie debuted 10/17/1956 |
| 46% | OCTET | 5 | This puzzle's special squares, e.g. |
| 46% | NORTH | 5 | Direction suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 46% | MIXEDDOUBLES | 12 | Game suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 46% | AUSTRALIA | 9 | Locale suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 46% | THOMASNAST | 10 | Cartoonist suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 46% | OCTOPUS | 7 | Creature suggested by this puzzle's circled letters |
| 46% | LATESHIFT | 9 | Employee hours suggested by this puzzle's circles |
| 46% | CHEMICALBONDING | 15 | Attraction suggested by this puzzle's theme answers |
| 46% | TUNNEL | 6 | With 86-Across, fixation problem suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | TIREROTATION | 12 | Regular vehicle maintenance suggested by this puzzle's circles |
| 45% | THEROUNDSONME | 13 | Offer at a pub ... as suggested by this puzzle's circled squares |
| 45% | TURNTURNTURN | 12 | 1965 #1 Byrds hit ... as suggested by this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 45% | WEATHERBALLOONS | 15 | Carriers of meteorological instruments ... as suggested by this puzzle's theme? |