| 100% | SICK | 4 | Start of a "recuperative" word ladder ending at 73-Across |
| 55% | EARTH | 5 | Start of a journey ending at 13-Across (changing one letter at a time) |
| 54% | POOR | 4 | Start of a word ladder whose first and last words are suggested by 36-Across |
| 52% | BREAD | 5 | *Dough (and start of a word ladder) |
| 49% | THUS | 4 | Word at the start of a conclusion |
| 49% | ENTER | 5 | Word at the start of a maze |
| 49% | LETSBEGIN | 9 | Words at the start of a lesson |
| 45% | AMEN | 4 | Word at the end of a prayer |
| 45% | ORELSE | 6 | Words at the end of a threat |
| 45% | IMFREE | 6 | Words at the end of a sentence? |
| 45% | ABRA | 4 | Start of a magical word |
| 44% | ELSE | 4 | Word at the end of a vague threat |
| 44% | OUTOFTHECRADLE | 14 | Start of a 36 Across poem |
| 44% | WHENLILACSLAST | 14 | Start of a 36 Across poem |
| 44% | ABRA | 4 | Start of a magician's word |
| 44% | EENIE | 5 | Start of a few choice words? |
| 44% | EENY | 4 | Start of a few choice words |
| 44% | OVER | 4 | Word at the end of a walkie-talkie conversation |
| 44% | ORELSE | 6 | Words at the end of a threat: 2 wds. |
| 44% | ORSO | 4 | Words at the end of a guesstimate (2 wds.) |
| 44% | SIS | 3 | Start of a cry that ends "bah!" |
| 44% | WHOA | 4 | Word at the start of the chorus in "Livin' on a Prayer" |
| 43% | COGITO | 6 | Start of a line ending in a sum? |
| 43% | AMEN | 4 | Word said at the end of a prayer |
| 43% | YOUCAMPAIGNIN | 13 | Start of a quote by 1-/73-Across |
| 43% | OSAY | 4 | Start of a song that ends with "brave" |
| 43% | HIP | 3 | Start of a cheer that ends with "hurray!" |
| 43% | NOMAN | 5 | Start of a quote ending "it tolls for thee" |
| 43% | AMEN | 4 | Word said at the end of a Hail Mary |
| 43% | HOMEATLAST | 10 | Words spoken at the end of a long day |