| 100% | CHARLTON | 8 | With 18-Across, "In the Arena" autobiographer |
| 67% | MEANING | 7 | With 18-Across, it puts the fun in a pun |
| 64% | ATLANTA | 7 | With 18-Across, team 31-Across played for in the 1992 World Series |
| 64% | LEONARD | 7 | With 18 Across, recipient of the comment |
| 63% | LISBETH | 7 | Salander played by 18-Across in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" |
| 61% | BHUT | 4 | With 18 Across, plant also known as the ghost pepper |
| 60% | MAGGIE | 6 | With 34-Across, "Psych" actress who plays the mother in 18-Across |
| 60% | JOE | 3 | With 18 Across, 46th male President of the United States of America |
| 59% | ROBERTGRIFFIN | 13 | With 18-Across, star college quarterback having a good rookie season with the Redskins, seen in Subway commercials: 2 wds. |
| 58% | INVESTIGATION | 13 | "CSI: ___," with 18-Across, the name of a TV show Liev Schreiber guest-starred in, also starring Laurence Fishburne |
| 58% | ARIANAGRANDE | 12 | "7 Rings" singer who reimagined 18-Across in a 2024 hit with the same title: 2 wds. |
| 57% | MALEFICENT | 10 | Disney film franchise with 18-Across as the fairy Thistlewit in 2019's "Mistress of Evil" sequel |
| 55% | SUNTAN | 6 | With 71 Across, what the people in this puzzle need? |
| 54% | WHATATIME | 9 | With 16 Across, exclamation from one living in the moment |
| 54% | ELF | 3 | Christmas figure seen in the answers to 18, 29, 46, and 60 Across |
| 54% | FBI | 3 | Org. whose secret war with 18-Down is documented in the book Wedge |
| 53% | ABU | 3 | With 18-Across, capital of the United Arab Emirates |
| 53% | JUST | 4 | With 18-Across, "To be on the safe side ..." |
| 53% | BIKE | 4 | With 18-Across, the Tour de France, for one |
| 53% | VENOM | 5 | Marvel film franchise with 18-Across as Dr. Paine in 2024's "The Last Dance" sequel |
| 53% | THOMAS | 6 | With 65 Across, the first to see his name ''up in lights'' (1881) |
| 53% | JOE | 3 | With 18-Across, the 46th president of the United States |
| 52% | MICHAELJORDAN | 13 | Six-time NBA champion with the 18-Across profiled in 42-Across (2 wds.) |
| 52% | DRY | 3 | With 10 Across, what cannot be seen in the house after a tearjerker |
| 52% | RONALD | 6 | With 19 Across, leader portrayed by Alan Rickman in "Lee Daniels' The Butler" |
| 52% | BOOBY | 5 | With 127 Across, one of many devices thwarting the burglars in "Home Alone" |
| 52% | JULIANNEHOUGH | 13 | "Dancing With the Stars" judge who costars in 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 52% | STAIRWAY | 8 | With 27-Down, song involved in the 18-Across lawsuit |
| 51% | SOYBEAN | 7 | With 18-Across, frying medium that's rich in heart-healthy fats |
| 51% | SONOFA | 6 | With 18-Across, Jimmy Buffett album that gave us "Cheeseburger in Paradise" |