| 100% | FOOLSRUSHIN | 11 | With 36- and 59-Across, words of Alexander Pope |
| 57% | ITWASTHEBEST | 12 | With 36 and 57 Across, ''A Tale of Two Cities'' beginning |
| 56% | SKIPPING | 8 | With 59-Across, lakeside activity ... or a hint to the words spelled across the fifth, eighth and 11th rows of the completed grid |
| 51% | IFMY | 4 | With 36- and 43-Across, second line of the poem |
| 49% | STORM | 5 | With 36- and 53-Down, translation of 38-/40-/41-Across |
| 49% | NOTHINGTO | 9 | With 36 and 56 Across, so-so |
| 47% | YOGI | 4 | With 36 Across, source of quote |
| 47% | TRIPLE | 6 | With 36-Across, statistical feat that typically involves the number of points, rebounds, and assists |
| 46% | COOKIE | 6 | With 36-Across, mass-produced ... and what each of four black squares in this puzzle is? |
| 46% | VERVE | 5 | Characteristic suggested by the first words of 17-, 20-, 36-, 55- and 60-Across |
| 46% | THERES | 6 | With 36-Across, "This has strings attached," and a hint to the ends of the starred answers |
| 45% | SWAN | 4 | With 36-Across, Tchaikovsky ballet that was a highlight of 18- and 46-Across's long professional partnership |
| 44% | ITALIAN | 7 | With 55-Across, description of 23-, 36- and 44-Across |
| 44% | ALL | 3 | With 36-Down and 38-Across, Blink-182 hit song, and a description of four long answers in this puzzle |
| 44% | BYE | 3 | With 38 and 39 Across, NSYNC hit of 2000 |
| 43% | FWDEKLERK | 9 | Predecessor of 36-Across and sharer with him of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize |
| 43% | DREAMSARE | 9 | With 36 Across and 61 Across, a quote by Lupita Nyong'o |
| 43% | WELCOMETOMY | 11 | With 59-Across, what one might say when entering the starts of 16-, 24-, and 38-Across? |
| 43% | CLEAR | 5 | With 64-Across, words that can precede the starts of 18-, 31-, 38- and 55-Across |
| 43% | POOR | 4 | Start of a word ladder whose first and last words are suggested by 36-Across |
| 42% | BUTDOCTOR | 9 | With 14 and 19 Across, punchline of a joke about a clown |
| 42% | BURRITOFILLINGS | 15 | What the last words of 17-, 23-, 36- and 49-Across might be |
| 42% | STRIKETHAT | 10 | Words of correction ... or a hint to 16-, 20-, 36- and 54-Across |
| 42% | EDSHEERAN | 9 | "Shape of You" singer/songwriter who co-wrote and sings 36-Across with 28-Across (2 wds.) |
| 41% | THERESNOTWO | 11 | With 64-Across, words of certainty ... or a hint to 23-, 40- and 56-Across |
| 41% | ROLL | 4 | With 44- and 76-Across, way to put legislators on record ... or the start, middle and end of a word ladder |
| 41% | OURGUESTSPEAKER | 15 | With 29-, 46- and 59-Across, welcome after-dinner words |
| 41% | SENTENCE | 8 | A string of words, with a subject and verb |
| 41% | STAYWITHUS | 10 | With 36- and 56-Across, an announcer's plea |
| 41% | BABY | 4 | Word before the starts of 16-, 36- and 58-Across and 10-, 14- and 33-Down |