| 100% | SHIVER | 6 | This ripples through a body when scared or chilled |
| 36% | YIKES | 5 | A word used when scared or surprised |
| 32% | ITSADOGSLIFE | 12 | Comment when things are tough … or a title for this puzzle |
| 32% | BYTHEWAY | 8 | You mean this when adding BTW to a mail or text |
| 31% | BARBECUESKEWER | 14 | Stick on a grill, or what passes through this puzzle's circled words? |
| 31% | STPATRICK | 9 | March figure ... or, when split into three parts, a title for this puzzle |
| 30% | WORDSQUARE | 10 | Classic letter puzzle -- or, when parsed differently, a hint to three Down answers in this puzzle |
| 30% | SEVENTHHEAVEN | 13 | Total bliss ... or, when read in three parts, a description of the region above this grid? |
| 30% | COTTONCANDY | 11 | Carnival confection ... or, when re-parsed, a hint to what appears three times in this puzzle |
| 30% | THINKTANKS | 10 | Bodies of advisory experts … or, when reinterpreted as an imperative, a hint to 17-, 24-, 38- and 52-Across |
| 29% | HERNIA | 6 | Tissue that bulges through a body cavity wall |
| 29% | TENANTS | 7 | Ones paying flat rates ... or, when read as two words, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 29% | Y2K | 3 | Big scare of a couple of decades ago ... or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 29% | HEART | 5 | "I'm a pumping organ that might beat faster when you're excited or scared. Who am I?" |
| 29% | ASTARISBORN | 11 | Thrice-remade movie … or, when parsed as six words, a hint to the theme clues in this puzzle |
| 28% | CONTOUR | 7 | Outline of a body or figure |
| 28% | OCHRISTMASTREE | 14 | Holiday carol … or a literal hint to what can be drawn by connecting nine letters when this puzzle is finished |
| 28% | WORD | 4 | Scrabble play, or, when parsed in three parts, a hint to the switch featured in this puzzle's longest answers |
| 28% | LIMB | 4 | A body part, such as an arm or leg |
| 28% | COMMITTEE | 9 | A body of persons chosen to advise or investigate |
| 28% | PULSE | 5 | A body vital checked at the neck or wrist |
| 28% | LEAK | 4 | Lose contents through a hole or crack |
| 28% | STREET | 6 | Public road through a town or city |
| 28% | EXAM | 4 | A midterm or final this |
| 27% | SPA | 3 | Place for a body wrap or a facial |
| 27% | DRAFT | 5 | Wind that comes through a window or door |
| 27% | ARTERIAL | 8 | Main access road through a city or town |
| 27% | NEGLIGEE | 8 | A woman can see through this! |
| 27% | RUNS | 4 | A River does this Through It |
| 27% | CHA | 3 | When doubled or tripled, a dance |