| 100% | KETANJI | 7 | With 38- and 43-Across, history-making SCOTUS appointee |
| 48% | BYE | 3 | With 38 and 39 Across, NSYNC hit of 2000 |
| 47% | KETANJI | 7 | With 38- and 43-Across, the first Black woman and first former federal public defender confirmed to the Supreme Court (April, 2022) |
| 46% | ABRIEF | 6 | With 38 and 47 Across, best-seller written by 24/49 Across |
| 43% | MARY | 4 | With 43 Across, Supporting Actress (''Melvin and Howard'') |
| 42% | SIXTEENTH | 9 | With 54 Across, 38/40 Across' place in history |
| 42% | THATSTHEWAY | 11 | With 38- and 57-Across, "Rotten luck!" |
| 41% | ALL | 3 | With 38- and 50-Across, 1967 Beatles hit |
| 41% | IVEGOT | 6 | With 38- and 46-Across, 1966 4 Seasons hit |
| 41% | JUSTTHEWAY | 10 | With 38- and 65-Across, 1977 Billy Joel hit |
| 40% | HEWANTEDTO | 10 | With 38- and 62-Across, why the maharishi refused Novocain |
| 40% | AMESSAGEIN | 10 | With 38- and 56-Across, what's hidden in this puzzle |
| 40% | IWANTTOTAKE | 11 | With 38- and 67-Across, 1970 Sly & the Family Stone hit |
| 40% | HALF | 4 | With 38- and 40-Across, grocery purchase ... or what can be found in some other Across answers in this puzzle |
| 38% | IWONDERWHERETHE | 15 | With 37- and 38-Across, a musing |
| 38% | ITSGOTAGOODBEAT | 15 | With 38- and 59-Across, typical opinion about a record on 40-/14-Across |
| 38% | STAR | 4 | With 38-Across, like Romeo and Juliet ... and like the shaded words? |
| 38% | DAVID | 5 | With 38-Across, director of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" |
| 38% | GIACOMO | 7 | With 38-Across, Italian composer of the operas "Tosca" and "La Bohème" |
| 37% | SEAN | 4 | With 38-Across, Best Actor Oscar winner for both "Mystic River" and "Milk" |
| 37% | WHENALL | 7 | With 43- and 48-Across, everything considered |
| 37% | SWISS | 5 | With 43- and 76-Across, camping aid |
| 37% | EXCUSEMEOFFICER | 15 | With 38- and 60-Across, what the man caught taking a dip in the reservoir said |
| 37% | PATRICIA | 8 | With 38-Across, bestselling novelist who wrote 15-Across, 30-Across, and 47-Across |
| 37% | ERIK | 4 | With 38 Across, French composer |
| 36% | DONOTFORSAKE | 12 | With 49-Across, theme song of 37- and 38-Across |
| 36% | ACHIPOFF | 8 | With 37- and 43-Across, one who takes after dad |
| 36% | IFMY | 4 | With 36- and 43-Across, second line of the poem |
| 36% | NEW | 3 | With 7-Across and 5-Down, time to make resolutions |
| 36% | FLANNEL | 7 | With 38 Across, thick-fabric sleepwear |