| 100% | HAT | 3 | With "in" and 2-Down, with respectful humility |
| 58% | DROP | 4 | With 5-Down and 2-Down, mess up at a critical moment ... or participate in a New Year's Eve tradition? |
| 54% | SHEENAEASTON | 12 | "Strut" singer who Prince encouraged and collaborated with in the 1980s: 2 wds. |
| 53% | HATINHAND | 9 | With respectful humility |
| 52% | ORANGEIS | 8 | With 33- and 52-Across, television series set in a women's prison: 2 wds. |
| 52% | SETHMACFARLANE | 14 | Actor who starred in and made his directorial debut with 2012's "Ted": 2 wds. |
| 52% | GEORGESTRAIT | 12 | Country star with the 2005 platinum album "Somewhere Down in Texas": 2 wds. |
| 52% | RED | 3 | With 2- and 5-Down, patriotic colors |
| 51% | HASTE | 5 | With 2- and 4-Down, adage about rushing |
| 51% | MELGIBSON | 9 | "Lethal Weapon" and "Braveheart" actor who turned down the lead role in "Gladiator": 2 wds. |
| 50% | ALA | 3 | With 5-Down, priced separately, in restaurants: 2 wds. |
| 50% | BRADLEYCOOPER | 13 | Actor who starred in and made his directorial debut with 2018's "A Star Is Born": 2 wds. |
| 50% | MARCUSMARIOTA | 13 | Former Titans quarterback and 2014 Heisman winner who signed with the Raiders in 2020: 2 wds. |
| 50% | ROPES | 5 | Ins and outs, with "the" |
| 50% | RICHARDADAMS | 12 | Writer who created Fiver, Hazel, and their fellow rabbits in "Watership Down": 2 wds. |
| 49% | CAMNEWTON | 9 | Former Panthers quarterback and first overall draft pick in 2011 who signed with the Patriots in 2020: 2 wds. |
| 49% | ISLANDSIN | 9 | With 40-Across, song that reached #1 on Billboard's country and Hot 100 charts in 1983: 2 wds. |
| 49% | GEORGECLOONEY | 13 | Actor who starred in and made his directorial debut with 2002's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind": 2 wds. |
| 49% | EVE | 3 | Robot who falls in love with 2-Down |
| 49% | ALLSPICE | 8 | Common seasoning in apple and pumpkin 2-Down |
| 49% | ERIC | 4 | With 76-Down, actor in "Troy" and "Munich" |
| 49% | MABARKER | 8 | Midwest woman with four gangster sons who was gunned down by the FBI in 1935: 2 wds. |
| 49% | MUSES | 5 | Urania and 2 Down, e.g. |
| 49% | BALD | 4 | With ''-faced'' and 65 Down, whopper |
| 49% | SET | 3 | With ''to'' and 26 Down, pacify |
| 49% | NICOLEKIDMAN | 12 | "Lion" actress who costars with Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley in 32-Across: 2 wds |
| 49% | PAPA | 4 | With 2 Down, parents |
| 49% | RAGDOLLS | 8 | 2 Down and Andy |
| 49% | ABAS | 4 | Down with, in Dunkirk |
| 49% | TOW | 3 | With 2-Down, type of zone in which parking is restricted |