| 100% | YOURROOTS | 9 | With 56-Across, hairstylist's observation (that also applies to 17-, 25- and 34-Across?) |
| 51% | WINWINSITUATION | 15 | Circumstance that's good for everyone ... with a hint to 17-, 25- and 44-Across |
| 47% | HANGINTHERE | 11 | "Don't give up," and a suggestion that can apply to 17-, 25-, 49-, and 59-Across? |
| 42% | EMPTYCALORIES | 13 | What many junk foods contain ... with a hint to the initials of 17-, 25-, 48- and 56-Across |
| 39% | HUSHHUSH | 8 | Top-secret ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 39- and 56-Across (AND 66-Across!) |
| 39% | BREAKTHEICE | 11 | Get a delicate dialogue started ... and a hint to 17-, 25-, 34- and 49-Across |
| 38% | FRANGLAIS | 9 | Hybrid linguistic term that hints at the answers to 17-, 25-, 36- and 51-Across |
| 38% | THROWINTHETOWEL | 15 | Call it quits ... with a hint to 17-, 23-, 48- and 56-Across |
| 37% | FOILMETHOD | 10 | Technique used to multiply (x+4)(x-5), with the first words of 17-, 25-, 36-, and 44 Across making up its mnemonic |
| 37% | GESUNDHEIT | 10 | Polite response to the ends of 17-, 25-, 34- and 48-Across |
| 36% | FIRSTDAUGHTER | 13 | Informal political title that could be applied to 15-, 17-, 46-, and 48-Across: 2 wds. |
| 35% | OTANNENBAUM | 11 | Seasonal song with a hint to the last words in 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across |
| 35% | CUTTING | 7 | With 56-Across, indifferent student's practice, and a hint to the puzzle theme |
| 35% | STUFFEDTOMATOES | 15 | Rice-filled appetizers with red shells, and a hint to the words that bookend 17-, 30-, and 42-Across |
| 35% | WHATARACKET | 11 | "Boy, is that loud!" ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 25-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 35% | WASHINGTON | 10 | U.S. capital whose location is a hint to 17-, 25-, 37- and 52-Across |
| 35% | ILLGOFIRST | 10 | Trailblazer's declaration ... or a hint to 17-, 19-, 34- and 51-Across |
| 35% | BELIEVEITORNOT | 14 | Ripley catchphrase that's apropos to 20-, 34- and 42-Across |
| 35% | NBA | 3 | Org. whose only members with nonplural names appear at the ends of 17-, 25-, 41- and 56-Across |
| 35% | GETPLAYED | 9 | Fall for it, or what can happen to the last words of 17-, 25-, 38- and 56-Across |
| 34% | ALLINTHEFAMILY | 14 | 1970's TV show with a literal hint to 20-, 25- and 42-Across |
| 34% | SIGNONTHE | 9 | With 60-Across, ink a contract ... or a feature of 17-, 25- and 37-Across |
| 34% | CHRISTMAS | 9 | With 63-Across, extra holiday pay ... or what's in 17-, 22-, 34- and 45-Across? |
| 34% | BRINGEMON | 9 | Fighter's dare … or a hint to answering 17-, 23-, 34- and 48-Across |
| 33% | SILENCEISGOLDEN | 15 | A proverb that contradicts 17- and 34-Across |
| 33% | PRESTOCHANGEO | 13 | Magician's phrase ... or a hint to part of 18-, 25-, 34- and 41-Across |
| 33% | THERESNOTWO | 11 | With 64-Across, words of certainty ... or a hint to 23-, 40- and 56-Across |
| 33% | THATSAWRAP | 10 | "Finished!"...or an observation about the starts of 17-, 25- and 45-Across |
| 33% | HIDDENFEE | 9 | Feature of some contracts, and a hint to 17-, 25- and 41-Across |
| 33% | CARDHOLDER | 10 | One with credit ... or a literal hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across |