| 100% | ADVANCED | 8 | To be experienced in a specific field or skill |
| 42% | PROWESS | 7 | Expertise or skill in a particular field |
| 42% | EXPERTISE | 9 | Proficiency in a specific field |
| 42% | LITERACY | 8 | Competence in a specific field |
| 42% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Masterpiece waiting to be found ... or a hint to the words in the circled letters |
| 40% | EXPERTISE | 9 | Immense skill or knowledge in a field |
| 40% | EXCHANGINGRINGS | 15 | Sharing in a symbol of commitment … or what four rows in this puzzle are doing to form new phrases |
| 39% | THELONG | 7 | With 63-Across, all that needs to be said, or a hint to what's found in each starred answer |
| 39% | MANIC | 5 | To be excited in a way that suggests frenzy |
| 39% | DROPMEALINE | 11 | "Don't be a stranger!" ... or what you have to do three times in this puzzle |
| 39% | CURIE | 5 | Marie who is the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different science fields |
| 38% | JARGON | 6 | Niche language used in a specific technical field |
| 38% | ETRE | 4 | To be in a faraway land |
| 38% | CORPORATEMERGER | 15 | Business acquisition ... or a hint to how the answers to the starred clues in this puzzle were formed? |
| 38% | POCKET | 6 | I'm a small patch in your jeans to hold a wallet or candy wrappers. Who am I? |
| 38% | TAILINGOFF | 10 | Waning ... or a hint to what is found by circling all the T's in the completed puzzle |
| 38% | ENDEMIC | 7 | Occurs in a specific region or population |
| 38% | SIDELINE | 8 | Boundary in a sports field or court |
| 38% | AIL | 3 | To be sick, or catch a bug |
| 38% | WASHABLE | 8 | OK to be cleaned in a Maytag |
| 38% | AGENDAS | 7 | Things to be discussed in a meeting |
| 38% | IMPLICATE | 9 | Show to be involved in a crime |
| 38% | IRREFUTABLY | 11 | In a way not to be disproved |
| 37% | AREA | 4 | Zip code is given to a specific ___ in the city |
| 37% | KEEPITBETWEENUS | 15 | "Let this be our little secret" … or a hint to letter sequences hidden in 16-, 32- and 40-Across |
| 37% | INTENT | 6 | Something to be proven in a criminal case |
| 37% | EQUITABLY | 9 | In a way that is fair to all |
| 37% | CARDED | 6 | Found to be legal, in a way |
| 37% | DEALT | 5 | Ready to be played, in a way |
| 37% | HALAL | 5 | Permissible to be eaten, in a way |