| 100% | UPSTARTS | 8 | Social climbers, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have |
| 88% | BEARHUGS | 8 | Tight embraces, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have? |
| 88% | CHEESEFILLING | 13 | Ravioli option, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have? |
| 88% | DRESSINGDOWN | 12 | Severe scolding, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have? |
| 87% | ANIMALRIGHTS | 12 | Anti-cruelty movement, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have |
| 87% | LETTEROPENERS | 13 | Envelope-slicing tools, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have? |
| 86% | HUMBLEBEGINNINGS | 16 | Part of a rags-to-riches story, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have |
| 86% | UPPERATMOSPHERE | 15 | Layer in which space stations orbit Earth, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have? |
| 85% | SHOWSTOPPER | 11 | Dazzling theater performance, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has |
| 85% | FIRESTARTER | 11 | 1980 Stephen King novel, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has? |
| 85% | COPYRIGHT | 9 | Protection of intellectual property, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has |
| 84% | WORKOUTINTHEEND | 15 | Come to a satisfying conclusion, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has |
| 84% | GLOWUP | 6 | Positive personal transformation, in slang, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has? |
| 78% | SECONDLOOK | 10 | Reappraisal, and what the answers to the starred clues all have? |
| 78% | TREEHUGGERS | 11 | Nature lovers, and what the answers to the starred clues literally are |
| 78% | CUTTHECARBS | 11 | Dieting advice, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |
| 78% | TIMESLOT | 8 | Schedule component, and what the answers to the starred clues literally contain |
| 78% | FULLOFBEANS | 11 | Completely wrong, and what the answers to the starred clues literally are? |
| 78% | FILLEDWITHJOY | 13 | Feeling euphoric, and what the answers to the starred clues literally are |
| 77% | FASTFOOD | 8 | Speedy meal option, and what the answers to the starred clues literally are? |
| 77% | BREAKASTORY | 11 | What an investigative journalist might do, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |
| 77% | FILLONESSHOES | 13 | Step in for another, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |
| 77% | ENDTABLES | 9 | Living-room lamp holders, and what the answers to the starred clues all have? |
| 77% | SIDEOFFRIES | 11 | Combo meal component, and what the answers to the starred clues have |
| 76% | FIRSTPLACE | 10 | Top spot on the podium, and what the answers to the starred clues all have? |
| 76% | CUTTHECARDS | 11 | Prepare a deck before dealing, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |
| 76% | PAIROFPANTS | 11 | Trousers, and what the answer to each starred clue literally is |
| 76% | UPPERHAND | 9 | Advantageous position, and what each answer to a starred clue literally has |
| 76% | ORDERUP | 7 | Diner call ... and what the answer to each starred clue literally contains |
| 75% | HOLDTHATTHOUGHT | 15 | "Remember what you were about to say," and what the answers to the starred clues literally do |