| 100% | SPLIT | 5 | Start of the contest answer, and a nudge to finding the rest |
| 61% | XXXXX | 5 | Sound of touching glasses in a toast (and a hint to finding the contest answer) |
| 59% | FOURQUARTERS | 12 | Change for a dollar, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 58% | WILDFLOWERS | 11 | Colorful elements of a meadow, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues? |
| 56% | BUZZWORDS | 9 | Snazzy jargon, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 56% | SEVENSEAS | 9 | Global group, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 56% | NOEL | 4 | Seasonal song (and a hint to finding the contest answer) |
| 55% | BEDHEAD | 7 | Mussed hair upon waking, and a hint to the circled starts of answers |
| 55% | HAIRSALON | 9 | Permanent place ... and where to find the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 55% | RECIPEBOOK | 10 | Kitchen guide ... and where to find the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 55% | DRESSINGDOWNS | 13 | Severe reprimands, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 55% | PLAYMATES | 9 | Sandbox sharers ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 55% | HEAVYMETAL | 10 | Rock genre ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 55% | COMMONSENSE | 11 | Practical judgment ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 55% | COKEISIT | 8 | Pop slogan of 1982, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 55% | BEACHFRONT | 10 | Coastal strip of land, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 55% | BEARDOWN | 8 | Put in extra effort, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 54% | OILCHANGE | 9 | Jiffy Lube service, and a hint to the start of the answers to starred clues |
| 54% | MOVIETRAILERS | 13 | "Coming attractions" offerings, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 54% | GETCRACKING | 11 | Make a start, and what you might do to the ends of the starred answers |
| 54% | FALLINGLEAVES | 13 | Autumn occurrence, and a hint to the start of the other four longest Down answers |
| 54% | PENNAMES | 8 | Writers' aliases, and what are found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 54% | SWORDPLAY | 9 | Art of fencing, and a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 54% | GENEEDITING | 11 | Molecular manipulation technique ... and a hint to the starts of the three other longest puzzle answers |
| 54% | WHERETHE | 8 | With 43-Across, an exciting place, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 54% | ANIMALHOUSE | 11 | Raucous frat film, and a hint to the starts of the other four long Across answers |
| 54% | DOWNSIZING | 10 | Cornerstone of the Konmari method, and the progression found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 54% | LEADINGQUESTION | 15 | Reason for a courtroom objection, and what the start of the answer to each starred clue has |
| 54% | CLOCKFACES | 10 | Their third hands are their second hands, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 53% | OPENINGBELL | 11 | 9:30 a.m. event at the NYSE, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |