| 100% | WRITETHATDOWN | 13 | Teacher's directive, and a hint to 4-, 10-, 27- and 33-Down |
| 54% | ICEUP | 5 | Freeze over, and a hint to a feature of 5-, 6-, 10-, 25- and 33-Down |
| 52% | BEGINNINGOFFALL | 15 | September equinox, and a hint to the starts of 18- & 62-Across and 2-, 3-, 10-, 33-, 37- & 38-Down |
| 49% | MIXEDGREENSALAD | 15 | Dieter's fare ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 49- and 62-Across and 10- and 26-Down |
| 47% | SEATCHANGE | 10 | Irritated passenger's request, and a hint to the ends of 17-, 27- and 48-Across |
| 46% | ONTHERISE | 9 | Increasing, and a hint to 17- and 40-Across and 11- and 27-Down |
| 46% | INSIDEVOICES | 12 | Teacher's remark to a noisy classroom, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 46% | EASYDOESIT | 10 | "Careful now" ... and a hint to what's hidden in 17-, 27- and 46-Across |
| 46% | BURYTHELEDE | 11 | Postpone an article's essential points ... and a hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across |
| 46% | JUICEUP | 7 | Supercharge, and a hint to what's literally hiding in the four longest Down answers |
| 46% | DOUBLEFEATURE | 13 | Drive-in theater draw ... with a literal hint to 4- and 21-Down |
| 46% | FORESAW | 7 | Knew in advance, and a hint to parts of 17- and 61-Across and 10- and 35-Down |
| 45% | THEDOCTORISIN | 13 | Words on Lucy's "Psychiatric Help - 5¢" sign ... and a hint to 20-, 33- and 39-Across |
| 45% | SOS | 3 | "Help!"... and a hint to 17-, 27-, 42- and 53-Across |
| 45% | MIDDLEAMERICA | 13 | Heartland, and a hint to 20-, 27-, 35- and 45-Across |
| 45% | FINGERSCROSSED | 14 | "Here's hoping" ... or a hint to 16-Across/10-Down and 37-Across/14-Down |
| 45% | INITIALHERE | 11 | Contract directive … or a hint to what's missing from 17-, 20-, 58- and 62-Across |
| 44% | SHAPESUP | 8 | Quits misbehaving ... or a literal hint to 4-, 9-, 13-, 49- and 57-Down |
| 44% | DOUBLETALK | 10 | Evasive communication, and a hint to 18-, 27-, 36- and 45-Across |
| 44% | LETTHEREBELIGHT | 15 | Genesis words, and a hint to 16-, 27-, 43- and 59-Across |
| 44% | ONTHEBEACH | 10 | 1957 novel, and a hint to the ends of 17-, 27- and 45-Across and 11- and 34-Down |
| 44% | TURNTABLES | 10 | DJs' devices ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| 44% | CHILDSPLAY | 10 | "Piece of cake!" (and a hint to the starts of 17-Across and 11- and 27-Down) |
| 44% | CANDW | 5 | Grand Ole Opry genre, briefly, that's also a hint to 21-, 33-, 41- and 51-Across |
| 44% | SOUNDSRIGHT | 11 | "Seems correct," and a hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across |
| 44% | SIDESALAD | 9 | Steak go-with, perhaps, and a hint to 10 puzzle answers |
| 44% | SPRINGBREAK | 11 | Collegians' getaway time, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| 44% | HEADPHONES | 10 | They bring music to one's ears ... or a hint to 17-, 21-, 33-, 45- and 54-Across |
| 44% | PARTYFOUL | 9 | Knocking over someone's drink, e.g. … or, homophonically, a hint to 17-, 27-, 39- and 54-Across |
| 44% | DOUBLETIME | 10 | Fast marching pace ... or a hint to 16- and 39-Across and 10- and 24-Down |