| 100% | MEAT | 4 | With 53-Across, a cleaver |
| 80% | GOLDILOCKSAND | 13 | With 53 Across, fairy tale about a young, blonde trespasser |
| 75% | TURKISH | 7 | With 53-Across, a sugary treat |
| 73% | FEESCHARGEDBYAN | 15 | With 53-Across, a daffynition of 20-Across |
| 69% | HEHASNOTASINGLE | 15 | With 53-Across, a comment on British P.M. William Gladstone |
| 68% | METES | 5 | With 53 Across, apportions |
| 66% | NEW | 3 | With 53 Across, historical fresh start |
| 65% | STOPPINGBYWOODS | 15 | With 53 Across, ''miles to go'' poem |
| 64% | ETTU | 4 | Words associated with 53 Across |
| 61% | HEAT | 4 | With 53-Across, weather phenomenon with trapped warmth, and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters |
| 60% | SAM | 3 | With 53-Across, "Would you eat them in a box? Would you eat them with a fox?" speaker |
| 60% | TIA | 3 | With 53-Down, a coffee-flavored liqueur |
| 60% | BUT | 3 | With 75 Across, a gas |
| 59% | THEPURGE | 8 | With 53-Across, 2014 dystopian action sequel that grossed $111 million despite a mere $9 million budget: 2 wds. |
| 59% | BASS | 4 | With 53-Down, a beverage brand since 1777 |
| 59% | LIME | 4 | With 56 Across, a summer cooler |
| 59% | KEY | 3 | With 52 Across, a Florida attraction |
| 59% | RON | 3 | With 136 Across, a rum brand |
| 59% | YES | 3 | With 89 Across, a confident assent |
| 59% | ONE | 3 | With 41 Across, a vitamin brand |
| 59% | LIFE | 4 | With 127 Across, a popular candy |
| 59% | DEMONSAREA | 10 | With 105 Across, a Halloween tune? |
| 58% | ARE | 3 | With 62 Across, a question of confirmation |
| 58% | UTAH | 4 | With 20 Across, a Pac-12 school |
| 58% | MISS | 4 | With 19 Across, a certain pageant winner |
| 58% | GUESSWHOSCOMING | 15 | With 28 Across, a Kate Oscar film |
| 57% | WAGTHE | 6 | With 122 Across, a Hoffman-De Niro film |
| 57% | ELEC | 4 | With 20 Across, a "current" college course: abbr. |
| 56% | ERIE | 4 | A Great 53 Across |
| 56% | TIN | 3 | With 53-Across, jalopy |