| 100% | LAST | 4 | Which words to read in 20-, 38- and 53-Across to get a warm welcome |
| 40% | ITSOKWITHME | 11 | "Sure, go ahead" ... and a literal hint to what's found in 17-, 26-, 38- and 53-Across |
| 40% | NOWINSITUATIONS | 15 | Tough spots to be in … or what 17-, 20-, 38- and 53-Across represent? |
| 39% | NEST | 4 | Where 38-Across lay 1-Across ... or a word hidden in 20-, 27-, 44- and 51-Across |
| 39% | STORY | 5 | Level ... or a three-word hint to 20-, 38- and 60-Across |
| 38% | RELIGIOUSLEADER | 15 | Minister or imam, say ... and, in two ways, a hint to words hidden in 17-, 29- and 38-Across |
| 38% | MULTIPLECHOICE | 14 | Kind of test ... and a hint to a word hidden three times each in 16-, 22-, 38- and 48-Across |
| 38% | JOVIAL | 6 | To be warm and friendly in a welcoming manner |
| 37% | NO | 2 | With 38-Across, what a two-letter answer is in a crossword, usually ... or a hint to 20-, 24-, 44- and 51-Across |
| 37% | EDGEWISE | 8 | One way to get a word in ... and an aural hint to a feature of the starred clues' answers |
| 35% | ZIP | 3 | Nothing ... or a hint to what's hidden in 20-, 35- and 52-Across |
| 35% | EDGEWISE | 8 | Way to get a word in |
| 35% | STRIKETHAT | 10 | Words of correction ... or a hint to 16-, 20-, 36- and 54-Across |
| 35% | EDGEWISE | 8 | One way to get a word in |
| 35% | ABLE | 4 | Not ___ to get a word in edgewise |
| 35% | INTERSTATE | 10 | (adj.) to get a word in edgewise |
| 35% | ANDY | 4 | "Toy Story" boy ... or, with the circled letters, a hint to 20-, 39- and 53-Across |
| 35% | WHATSSOFUNNY | 12 | Question asked in response to the starts of both words in 20-, 28- and 48-Across |
| 35% | CODESWITCHING | 13 | Speaking Spanglish, say ... or a hint to what's hidden in 20-, 28- and 48-Across |
| 34% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 34% | LETSEAT | 7 | "Dinner!" ... and a hint to the first word of 21-, 27-, 44- and 53-Across |
| 34% | BEEF | 4 | Complaint, or a hint to the grades that start 20-, 32-, 40- and 53-Across |
| 34% | GRADEINFLATION | 14 | Modern educational phenomenon ... or a hint to 20-, 29-, 38- and 45-Across |
| 34% | ABLE | 4 | "I wasn't ___ to get a word in edgewise" |
| 34% | WHERESTHEFIRE | 13 | "What's your hurry?" ... and a literal hint to what's hiding in 20-, 27- and 42-Across |
| 34% | PICKUP | 6 | Learn ... or a word that can precede the ends of 20-, 29-, 44- and 53-Across |
| 34% | ARTOO | 5 | ___-Detoo ... or, when read in three parts, a hint to 17-, 31-, 47- and 63-Across |
| 34% | ROLLINGINDOUGH | 14 | Wealthy, and a hint to the first word of 20-, 35- and 40-Across |
| 34% | ABLE | 4 | Add a B to 48-Across, and you'll be ___ to get this word! |
| 34% | STOPMAKINGSENSE | 15 | No longer be comprehensible ... and, with its first word divided in three parts, a hint to how to read this puzzle's title |