| 100% | CEES | 4 | They're hard in across answers and soft in down ones |
| 41% | CARS | 4 | They're ''parked'' in the four longest Across answers |
| 39% | FADS | 4 | They're in one year and out the other |
| 38% | OFS | 3 | They're in left, right, and center, in one sense (abbr.) |
| 38% | BITINGPESTS | 11 | They're hidden in 21-, 31- and 40-Across |
| 37% | ZODIACSIGNS | 11 | They're hidden in 8-, 10-, 21- and 33-Down |
| 37% | HEADLIGHTS | 10 | They're at the front of a car, and the other four longest Across answers |
| 36% | ACTINGAWARDS | 12 | They're "presented" in 20-, 28- and 46-Across |
| 36% | STATECAPITALS | 13 | They're hidden in 17-, 25-, 52- and 61-Across |
| 36% | AUTOMOBILES | 11 | They're hidden in 17-, 25-, 52- and 61-Across |
| 36% | NORSEGODS | 9 | They're hidden in 17-, 25-, 36- and 47-Across |
| 36% | AEIOU | 5 | They're found once each in 17- and 58-Across and 11- and 27-Down |
| 36% | ABC | 3 | They're "easy" to find in 17- and 53-Across and 3- and 24-Down |
| 35% | DRILLBITS | 9 | They're chucked in a chuck and bored in a board |
| 35% | TALC | 4 | Soft rock found in the eight longest Across answers |
| 35% | FARMFEMALES | 11 | They can be found in six long Across answers |
| 35% | EILISH | 6 | Billie who released the album Hit Me Hard and Soft in May 2024 |
| 34% | SEEINGSTARS | 11 | In pain, and what you're doing for the answers to 17- and 38-Across and 11- and 29-Down |
| 34% | FASHIONDESIGNER | 15 | One can be found in each of the answers to 17-, 24-, 54- and 63-Across |
| 34% | ELEVATORS | 9 | They go up and down in a skyscraper |
| 34% | YAXIS | 5 | One going up and down in a plane? |
| 34% | HEELS | 5 | They're hard to run in |
| 33% | MMM | 3 | "Delicious!" ... and a hint to every Across answer in this puzzle |
| 33% | TACO | 4 | One might be in a hard or soft shell |
| 33% | ELEVATORS | 9 | They carry people up and down in tall buildings |
| 33% | GOALS | 5 | They are worth one point in hockey and soccer |
| 33% | DISCI | 5 | They're thrown in track and field |
| 33% | ORES | 4 | They're found in mines and quarries |
| 33% | ARCS | 4 | They're measured in minutes and seconds |
| 33% | SILENTBS | 8 | They're found in tombs and catacombs |