| 100% | VANISH | 6 | To disappear suddenly and without reason |
| 44% | ONA | 3 | With 32-Across, suddenly and without thinking |
| 41% | FLAWLESS | 8 | To be perfect and without any defects |
| 41% | SIN | 3 | Reason to atone and repent |
| 40% | AMORAL | 6 | Without regard to right and wrong |
| 37% | CAME | 4 | His team won and he suddenly ___ to life |
| 35% | BLOCKPARTY | 10 | Reason to close a neighborhood street, and a hint to the circled squares |
| 34% | RIGHTLYSO | 9 | For good reason, and a hint to five answers in this puzzle |
| 34% | ROAD | 4 | Answer to the riddle "What can go up and down without moving?" |
| 33% | TOT | 3 | Little one whose cuteness and laughter may be your reason to smile today |
| 33% | WET | 3 | Like somebody without an umbrella, and what's added to four starred answers |
| 33% | GROUNDLESS | 10 | Without reason |
| 33% | INANELY | 7 | Without reason |
| 33% | VANISHES | 8 | Disappears suddenly |
| 33% | FALSESTARTS | 11 | Reasons to begin a race over … and a hint to 17-, 25-, 39- and 49-Across |
| 32% | DOG | 3 | Furry friend that can brighten your day and be your reason to smile today |
| 32% | STORM | 5 | Reason to stop fishing and get your little boat back to shore |
| 32% | ABRUPTLY | 8 | Suddenly and unexpectedly |
| 32% | LEADINGQUESTION | 15 | Reason for a courtroom objection, and what the start of the answer to each starred clue has |
| 32% | STEEL | 5 | Mark —, stand-up comedian; author of books Vive La Revolution and Reasons to be Cheerful |
| 31% | FORD | 4 | Only president to serve as both vice president and president without being elected to either office |
| 31% | NUKE | 4 | One way to cook corn on the cob without fussing with the husk and silk, slangily |
| 31% | SAIDSO | 6 | Demanded without reason |
| 31% | ERASES | 6 | Causes to disappear? |
| 31% | ERASING | 7 | Causing to disappear |
| 31% | FADES | 5 | Starts to disappear |
| 31% | ERASES | 6 | Causes to disappear |
| 31% | FADE | 4 | Start to disappear |
| 31% | TOOLITTLETOOLATE | 16 | Not enough, and without the urgency, to make a difference … or a literal hint to 18-, 30-, 38- and 48-Across |
| 30% | NOR | 3 | "Neither rhyme ___ reason," phrase used to refer to something without any explanation that was used by Shakespeare |