| 100% | SMOKE | 5 | With 43-Across, 1973 Deep Purple hit? |
| 54% | HUSH | 4 | Deep Purple hit song with the lyric "I thought I heard her / calling my name now" |
| 50% | DRIVERS | 7 | With 43-Across, Olivia Rodrigo hit, or a photo ID |
| 50% | GIRLS | 5 | With 43-Across, 2018 hit for Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B |
| 49% | THISMIGHTSOLVE | 14 | With 43 Across, inspiration encouragement |
| 49% | ILL | 3 | With 43 Across, evil person |
| 48% | DAGWOOD | 7 | With 43 Across, Cookie's parents |
| 48% | SKETCH | 6 | With 43 Across, art store purchase |
| 48% | CONGRESS | 8 | With 43 Across, German Confederation creator |
| 47% | LIAM | 4 | With 43 Across, ''Schindler's List'' star |
| 47% | BUTTONS | 7 | With 43 Across, Oscar song for 1947 |
| 47% | MARY | 4 | With 43 Across, Supporting Actress (''Melvin and Howard'') |
| 45% | MATRIXOF | 8 | With 43 Across, grid of numbers illustrating a sports transaction? |
| 42% | EDGARWINTER | 11 | Albino rocker with a 1973 #1 hit |
| 41% | ALL | 3 | With 43-Across, sane |
| 41% | MORE | 4 | With 43-Across, approximately |
| 41% | NEAT | 4 | With 43-Across, shipshape |
| 41% | RINGO | 5 | With 34-Across, onetime Beatle who had a 1973 hit that shared 18-Across's title |
| 41% | PENNY | 5 | With 43-Across, small wagers |
| 41% | RADIAL | 6 | With 43-Across, Michelin product |
| 41% | THICKEN | 7 | With 43-Across, Coagulate * Galley |
| 40% | HITTHE | 6 | With 55 Across, 1961 hit for Ray Charles |
| 40% | EDGARWINTER | 11 | Rocker with the 1973 hit "Frankenstein" |
| 40% | BLOW | 4 | With 43-Across, use bubble gum? |
| 40% | THE | 3 | With 43-Across, comic book superhero |
| 40% | RARE | 4 | With 43-Across, yttrium or scandium |
| 40% | TRUE | 4 | With 43-Across, kind of test |
| 40% | DOYOUNEED | 9 | With 43-Across, "What is it?" |
| 40% | THE | 3 | With 43-Across, feeling often fought |
| 40% | ROSE | 4 | With 43-Across, some perfume ingredients |