| 100% | ORGAN | 5 | Tommy, lead guitarist in The Jacksons' "Unity Tour" of 2012 and 2013, who would seem to be playing the wrong instrument, judging by his name |
| 32% | JERRYSEINFELD | 13 | The lead character from "Seinfeld", who is a semi-fictional version of the actor who plays the role and goes by the same name: 2 wds. |
| 31% | BACKWARDLOOKING | 15 | Give heed! And listen to my tale of the mad tyrant who decreed that all toilets in his realm be installed the wrong way, for he was the … |
| 29% | DONOVAN | 7 | 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who went by his first name only and had the hit "Mellow Yellow" |
| 29% | LEAN | 4 | "___ In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead," 2013 book by Sheryl Sandberg and Nell Scovell |
| 28% | SCOOBYDOO | 9 | The name of the Great Dane in the titular animated series, known for being able to speak and his love of eponymous snacks: Hyph. |
| 28% | TOLLS | 5 | "For Whom the Bell ___," novel by Ernest Hemingway, set in the Spanish Civil War and is regarded as one of his best works |
| 28% | CHUCKCONNORS | 12 | Actor who was one of only 13 athletes to play in both the NBA and the MLB (2 wds.) |
| 28% | BOJACKSON | 9 | Former NFL player to be named All-Star in both football and baseball who is considered one of the greatest RBs ever: 2 wds. |
| 27% | SNOOP | 5 | ___ Dogg, professional name of Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. who is an American rapper and had changed his alias in 2012 |
| 27% | ALEX | 4 | ___ Cross, fictional former FBI agent and psychologist created by James Patterson who is the protagonist in many of his books |
| 27% | PAULMORPHY | 10 | Late American chess player who was called "The Pride and Sorrow of Chess," and is considered to be the best in his era (1850s): 2 wds. |
| 27% | DUMMY | 5 | Player in bridge who exposes their hand to be played by the declarer |
| 27% | ALECBALDWIN | 11 | Actor who made a cameo in "Glengarry Glen Ross" by playing the role of Blake, the guy who is sent to motivate the sales team: 2 wds. |
| 27% | TJWARD | 6 | Safety drafted by the Browns in 2010 who played for the Broncos in 2014-17 and is god-brother to Maurice Jones-Drew |
| 26% | BRIANURLACHER | 13 | Former American football linebacker who played his entire 13-year career for the Chicago Bears and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018: 2 wds |
| 26% | PEYTONMANNING | 13 | Former NFL quarterback who did not play in 2011 due to multiple surgeries and won the Comeback Player of the Year in 2012: 2 wds. |
| 26% | WALTLONGMIRE | 12 | Sheriff of the fictional county of Absaroka, Wyoming, who is featured in 20 books by 40-Across and a 2012-2017 television series (2 wds.) |
| 26% | SCHUMACHER | 10 | Retired German F1 racing driver who shares his first name with 31a, and according to Forbes is the fifth highest-paid athlete of all time |
| 26% | WET | 3 | The ___ Bandits, villains in "Home Alone" who are played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern |
| 26% | TONYPARKER | 10 | 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who led the San Antonio Spurs to four NBA championships and who was the NBA Finals MVP in 2007 (2 wds.) |
| 26% | NIGHT | 5 | The ___ King, "Game of Thrones" character who was played by both Richard Brake and Vladimir Furdik |
| 26% | BALALAIKA | 9 | Instrument featured in "Babooshka" and "Running Up That Hill" that was played by the singer's brother, Paddy Bush |
| 26% | NEIL | 4 | First name in NASA's prestigious list of astronauts who have been to the moon |
| 26% | LEAN | 4 | "___ In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" (bestseller by Sheryl Sandberg) |
| 26% | MICHAEL | 7 | ___ Jackson, former member of the Jackson 5 who is known for his solo hits like "Thriller" and "Billie Jean" |
| 26% | MARENMORRIS | 11 | 1-Across, 12-Across, 27-Across, and 50-Across country/pop singer who was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2020 (2 wds.) |
| 25% | JAMIEMOYER | 10 | Pitcher in the Mariners Hall of Fame who played to age 49, in 2012: 2 wds. |
| 25% | ONO | 3 | Palindromic name of the musician who was awarded the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award in 2013 |
| 25% | COHN | 4 | Lawyer Roy who was played by Nathan Lane in the 2018 revival of “Angels in America” |