| 100% | DANAKILDESERT | 13 | This salt wasteland in Afar Triangle, Ethiopia is feared for its extreme heat, volcanic activities and toxic gases: 2 wds. |
| 29% | SUMATRANRHINO | 13 | Hunted for its horn, there are barely 200 of these mammals left in Malaysia and Indonesia: 2 wds. |
| 23% | CIRCLELETTERSTO | 15 | Step 2: With 43- and 55-Across, do this in the grid (scrambled or not) ... it works for almost anyone! |
| 23% | GAMEOFTHRONES | 13 | Fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos which will air its final season this year (2019): 3 wds. |
| 22% | MOTHERTERESA | 12 | Canonized nun who is known for her work in India and has a "family" name: 2 wds. |
| 22% | LIZAMINNELLI | 12 | American actress whose birthday it is today and is known for her widely acclaimed role as Sally Bowles in the musical film "Cabaret": 2 wds. |
| 22% | ROBINWRIGHT | 11 | American actress whose birthday it is today and who is known for playing Claire Underwood in Netflix series "House of Cards": 2 wds. |
| 22% | NHL | 3 | Toronto and Ottawa are in it, for short |
| 22% | SOAP | 4 | This could be liquid and you can buy it in bars |
| 22% | MIB | 3 | J and K are characters in it, for short |
| 21% | GMC | 3 | This auto brand is known for its Sierra and Yukon |
| 21% | ESCROW | 6 | Money for taxes and insurance may be held in it |
| 21% | EVIL | 4 | This is bad. Real bad. And it's lurking in the longest puzzle answers, too! |
| 20% | SNOW | 4 | In old movies, it was made using everything from marble dust to salt and painted cornflakes |
| 20% | ROWS | 4 | 2, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17 and 20, for the eight hiding in this grid |
| 20% | CHINASEA | 8 | Taiwan is in it: 2 wds. |
| 20% | IJUSTMETYOU | 11 | "Hey, ___, and this is crazy ..." (start of the chorus in 40-Across): 4 wds. |
| 20% | COCOCHANEL | 10 | French fashion designer and namesake of the brand that was founded in 1909 and is known for its perfume No. 5: 2 wds. |
| 20% | CLIMBINGSHOES | 13 | Footwear for boulderers, and what can be found in this puzzle's circled letters |
| 20% | RAISINGTHEFLAG | 14 | Activity depicted in a famous 2/23/1945 photograph ... and in three of this puzzle's answers |
| 20% | OAKS | 4 | These trees can live for over 1500 years and one in Bulgaria is about 1700 years old |
| 20% | BACKSTREETBOYS | 14 | Boy band formed in 1993 with a popular eponymous debut album and are famous for their song "I Want It That Way": 2 wds. |
| 20% | SOPHIECRUZ | 10 | Young American activist who is known for ensuring continuance of the DAPA program and was featured in the short "Free Like the Birds": 2 wds. |
| 20% | CATE | 4 | ___ Blanchett, actress who earned 2 Oscar nominations for playing Queen Elizabeth I, in "Elizabeth" and its sequel |
| 20% | PACINO | 6 | Al ___, actor who earned 2 Oscar nominations for playing Michael Corleone, in "The Godfather" and its sequel |
| 19% | SPILLEDMILK | 11 | Metaphor for something that can't be changed, and what's found five times in this puzzle? |
| 19% | ISEE | 4 | 2 wds for "I got it" |
| 19% | THEXFACTOR | 10 | Singer Demi Lovato was a judge in the second and third season of this music-based reality show: 3 wds. |
| 19% | OUT | 3 | This 2024 movie that brought emotions to the screen and shattered records. Give it up for Pixar's "Inside ___ 2"! |
| 19% | VARIABLE | 8 | In the answers to 17-, 34- and 57-Across, it was replaced in turn by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... |