| 100% | RATIONALE | 9 | Why and wherefore |
| 63% | MOTIVES | 7 | Whys and wherefores |
| 60% | WHYS | 4 | ___ and wherefores |
| 60% | WHYS | 4 | — and wherefores |
| 60% | WHYS | 4 | __ and wherefores |
| 60% | WHYS | 4 | ____ and wherefores |
| 59% | WHYS | 4 | __ and wherefores (motives) |
| 59% | WHYS | 4 | ___ and wherefores (reasons) |
| 59% | WHYS | 4 | __ and wherefores (reasons) |
| 59% | WHYS | 4 | ___ and wherefores (motives) |
| 54% | RATIONALE | 9 | Logical basis, whys and wherefores |
| 54% | REASONS | 7 | Wherefores and whys |
| 53% | ERGO | 4 | And that's why |
| 48% | GOUGEUSSOMETIMES | 16 | Why TAX and TACKS sound the same: Both ___ |
| 46% | GOESWITHOUTSAYING | 17 | Beats it and won't explain why? |
| 46% | WHAT | 4 | Partner of who, when, where, and why |
| 44% | EVENT | 5 | Why you might need to reserve a space and find catering |
| 43% | LOVELY | 6 | Billie Eilish and Khalid song from 13 Reasons Why |
| 43% | BRENDA | 6 | Actress Strong of "Sports Night" and "13 Reasons Why" |
| 43% | ANY | 3 | Word with where and how, but not usually why |
| 42% | HEWANTEDTO | 10 | With 38- and 62-Across, why the maharishi refused Novocain |
| 41% | LIFEISVERYSHORT | 15 | Why "there's no time for fussing and fighting," per a Beatles hit |
| 41% | BEARDGROWTH | 11 | Why one might have to shave, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | JOHNANTROBUS | 12 | Playwright whose works include Captain Oates' Left Sock and Why Bournemouth? |
| 41% | ABOVEMYPAYGRADE | 15 | "That's why you get the big bucks and not me" |
| 40% | JUSTFORKICKS | 12 | Why the buyers of 20-, 28- and 42-Across are in the shoe store? |
| 39% | FRANZKAFKA | 10 | He said "You are free and that is why you are lost" |
| 39% | ANTROBUS | 8 | John —, playwright whose works include Captain Oates' Left Sock and Why Bournemouth? |
| 39% | JOKES | 5 | One-liners, puns, and answers to why the chicken crossed the road |
| 38% | CAIN | 4 | Whom God asked "Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen?" |