| 100% | CARA | 4 | With 53-Across, Italian sugar |
| 68% | METES | 5 | With 53 Across, apportions |
| 66% | NEW | 3 | With 53 Across, historical fresh start |
| 64% | STOPPINGBYWOODS | 15 | With 53 Across, ''miles to go'' poem |
| 64% | ETTU | 4 | Words associated with 53 Across |
| 61% | GOLDILOCKSAND | 13 | With 53 Across, fairy tale about a young, blonde trespasser |
| 60% | ALFA | 4 | With 21 Across, Italian auto |
| 59% | VEAL | 4 | With 17 Across, Italian restaurant entrée |
| 56% | TIN | 3 | With 53-Across, jalopy |
| 56% | SAME | 4 | With 53-Across, "Ditto" |
| 55% | MEAT | 4 | With 53-Across, a cleaver |
| 55% | HOME | 4 | With 53-Across, concluding phase |
| 54% | THANKS | 6 | With 53 Across, hesitant answer to the question "Who starred with M. Ryan in 'Sleepless in Seattle'?" |
| 54% | KNUTEROCKNE | 11 | With 53-Across, 1940 Reagan film |
| 54% | PRINCIPAL | 9 | With 53-Across, where Victoria lives? |
| 54% | TURKISH | 7 | With 53-Across, a sugary treat |
| 54% | PASS | 4 | With 53-Across, look just like |
| 54% | SAMEOLD | 7 | With 53-Across, "Nothing's changed" |
| 54% | IRON | 4 | With 53-Across, goethite, e.g. |
| 54% | OAK | 3 | With 53-Across, grown-up acorn |
| 54% | PAY | 3 | With 53-Across, money transfer app |
| 54% | STAR | 4 | With 53-Across, "The Mandalorian" franchise |
| 54% | DELI | 4 | Shop with 53-Across |
| 53% | MARGARET | 8 | With 53-Across, author of the quote |
| 53% | NATHANIEL | 9 | With 53-Across, noted 19th-century writer |
| 53% | YOUREABETTERMAN | 15 | With 53-Across, classic Kipling poem ending |
| 53% | DOTSALLTHEISAND | 15 | Is meticulous, with 53-Across |
| 52% | FEESCHARGEDBYAN | 15 | With 53-Across, a daffynition of 20-Across |
| 52% | MARX | 4 | With 53-Across, noted comedy group, in brief |
| 52% | LOU | 3 | First name associated with 53-Across |