| 100% | POE | 3 | Who wrote "It was many and many a year ago, / In a kingdom by the sea ..." |
| 82% | ANNABELLEE | 10 | Classic poem that begins "It was many and many a year ago / In a kingdom by the sea" |
| 67% | ANNABEL | 7 | With 13-Down, titular maiden in a Poe poem that begins, "It was many and many a year ago, / In a kingdom by the sea" |
| 53% | CARTLAND | 8 | English author Barbara, who wrote "The Wicked Marquis", and is referenced in the Guinness World Records for most novels published in a year |
| 50% | ANNABEL | 7 | ___ Lee, who lived in a kingdom by the sea |
| 46% | ANNABEL | 7 | Lee who lived "in a kingdom by the sea" |
| 43% | EDISON | 6 | Who said "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work" |
| 42% | SOAP | 4 | It may be in a dish by the sink |
| 42% | STARBUCKS | 9 | Coffeehouse chain where the customers' names are written on each cup, and features a siren in its logo |
| 41% | HANSEL | 6 | ___ and Gretel, characters from a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm who are seen in the "Shrek" franchise |
| 41% | AGO | 3 | "It was many and many a year ___" (opening line of "Annabel Lee") |
| 41% | ANNABELLEE | 10 | Lover in a "kingdom by the sea" |
| 41% | LOUIS | 5 | ___ Armstrong, trumpeter and "What a Wonderful World" musician who is considered one of the most influential figures in jazz |
| 40% | ANNABELLEE | 10 | Maiden lover "in a kingdom by the sea" |
| 40% | ANNABELLEE | 10 | She lived in a "kingdom by the sea" |
| 40% | LYRIC | 5 | "In the town where I was born / Lived a man who sailed to sea" is the first one in "Yellow Submarine," by the Beatles |
| 40% | ISHIGURO | 8 | Author Kazuo who wrote “Klara and the Sun,” set in a dystopian future in which children are genetically engineered for academic excellence (March, 2021) |
| 39% | SOTHERN | 7 | Actress Ann who has two Hollywood Walk of Fame stars and was injured in 1974 by the falling of a fake tree! |
| 39% | DREYFUS | 7 | One of the most successful comedians, Julia Louis-___, who starred in "Seinfeld" and was once a part of SNL |
| 39% | LASTSONG | 8 | Novel by Nicholas Sparks about a 17 year old teen who is sent to stay with her father in the summer, "The ___": 2 wds. |
| 39% | STEVEAUSTIN | 11 | Retired WWE wrestler who goes by the nickname "Stone Cold" and has acted in a number of films, most notably "The Expendables": 2 wds. |
| 39% | POEHLER | 7 | One of the most successful comedians, Amy, who starred in "Parks and Recreation" and was once a member of SNL |
| 39% | ALEX | 4 | ___ Cross, fictional former FBI agent and psychologist created by James Patterson who is the protagonist in many of his books |
| 38% | 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.) |
| 38% | MALIBU | 6 | Hit song by American artist Miley Cyrus which depicts a city in California that is known for its celebrity homes and the sandy Zuma Beach |
| 38% | VERUCASALT | 10 | Child in Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" who is thrown down a garbage chute by squirrels: 2 wds. |
| 38% | FRIDERIC | 8 | George ___ Handel, composer from the Baroque era who was born in the same year as 31a and has composed more than 40 operas |
| 37% | KATHRYNSMITH | 12 | American football coach who has been actively involved as a full-time female coach in NFL history and has most recently served for the Buffalo Bills: 2 wds. |
| 37% | STEFFIGRAF | 10 | Tennis player who is the only player (man or woman) to win a Grand Slam and Olympic gold medal in one year: 2 wds. |
| 37% | BOX | 3 | Container (and, in a way, what you will find outlined by this year's clues related to the mega-meta) |