| 100% | FISTBUMPOR | 10 | With 40 and 64 Across, congratulatory choices |
| 45% | SOLAR | 5 | With 40-Across, juice choice |
| 45% | DONTBEGIN | 9 | With 40- and 60-Across, a cautionary message |
| 44% | GAYDIVORCEE | 11 | 27- and 64-Across film, with "The" |
| 44% | THREEPENNYOPERA | 15 | Brecht and 64-Across offering, with "The" |
| 43% | STAY | 4 | With 40-Across, coloring advice ... and literally so |
| 43% | READ | 4 | With 40-Across, infer something ... and literally so |
| 43% | STURM | 5 | With 40- and 41-Across, 18th-century literary and musical movement |
| 43% | LIKEA | 5 | With 40- and 46-Across, mossless? ... and #1 on the list |
| 43% | MISTER | 6 | With 40 Across, Hanks' role in 17/64 Across |
| 42% | GAMES | 5 | Checkers and 64 Across |
| 41% | ANAIS | 5 | With 64-Across, "Henry and June" author |
| 41% | THERESNOTWO | 11 | With 64-Across, words of certainty ... or a hint to 23-, 40- and 56-Across |
| 41% | EVERYSPRING | 11 | With 37- and 64-Across, a seasonal observation |
| 41% | LEGGO | 5 | With "my" and 40-Across, frozen waffle slogan |
| 40% | ANDREW | 6 | With 40- and 51-Across, composer of 29-Down/60-Across, as well as 63-Across |
| 40% | TUNA | 4 | With 40 Across, diner orders |
| 40% | WILLIE | 6 | With 40-Across, singer/songwriter who, at age 85, is still performing and touring |
| 39% | IBEFORE | 7 | With 14- and 64-Across, familiar rule not always followed |
| 39% | RAN | 3 | With 64-Across, chanced upon, and this puzzle's theme |
| 39% | TIC | 3 | With 40- and 43-Across, game that's been played in each of this puzzle's corners |
| 39% | HALF | 4 | With 38- and 40-Across, grocery purchase ... or what can be found in some other Across answers in this puzzle |
| 39% | JACQUELINE | 10 | With 33-, 36- and 40-Across, American born 7/28/1929 |
| 38% | SHRIMP | 6 | With 40 Across, seafood dish with garlic |
| 38% | INTWOWORDS | 10 | With 40 Across, Goldwyn's ''No way!'' |
| 38% | BETTY | 5 | With 40-Across, legendary actress and comedian who died at age 99 on 12/31/2021 |
| 37% | ITSGOTAGOODBEAT | 15 | With 38- and 59-Across, typical opinion about a record on 40-/14-Across |
| 37% | CALEB | 5 | With 48-Across, novelist who wrote 40-Across and "The Angel of Darkness" |
| 37% | DUETOBUDGETCUTS | 15 | With 34-, 40- and 60-Across, a somber message for our loyal fans |
| 37% | BALLS | 5 | Word that can follow the starts of 17-, 21-, 58- and 64-Across and 3- and 40-Down |