| 100% | CLUE | 4 | With 67-Across, "I need a hint" and a hint to uncovering four famous detectives |
| 52% | INSIDER | 7 | With 42-Across, white-collar crime ... and a hint to four Across answers |
| 51% | SPILLTHETEA | 11 | "Give me some gossip!" ... and a hint to this puzzle's sets of circles, which affect four Across answers |
| 50% | END | 3 | With 72-Across, evasive strategy ... and a hint to the last several letters of the four longest Across answers |
| 49% | SEWNUP | 6 | Clinched, and a hint to the four longest Across answers |
| 48% | WATER | 5 | With the answer below, dilute ... and a hint to the four longest answers |
| 47% | OPEN | 4 | With 67-Across, doctor's order ... and a hint to 40-, 50- and 58-Across |
| 47% | SKIPAD | 6 | Ubiquitous YouTube button ... and a hint to four long Across answers |
| 46% | RIGHTTURN | 9 | With 55-Down, sign at some corners, and a hint to four places in this grid |
| 45% | WIRED | 5 | Tense with excitement ... and a hint to the ends of the four longest puzzle answers |
| 45% | CANIGETANAMEN | 13 | "Anyone agree with me?" and a hint to what's hidden in the starred answers |
| 45% | ANIMALHOUSE | 11 | Raucous frat film, and a hint to the starts of the other four long Across answers |
| 44% | CUTTING | 7 | With 56-Across, indifferent student's practice, and a hint to the puzzle theme |
| 44% | DARK | 4 | With 37-Across, fall of Rome aftermath, and a hint to the puzzle theme |
| 44% | THESUNALSORISES | 15 | Hemingway title, and a hint to a three-letter answer that fits with four stealthy seven-letter answers |
| 44% | WEAREFAMILY | 11 | Sister Sledge classic whose second line is "I got all my sisters with me," and a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-, 39-, and 49-Across |
| 43% | THERES | 6 | With 36-Across, "This has strings attached," and a hint to the ends of the starred answers |
| 43% | THE | 3 | With 63- and 64-Across, privileged info, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 43% | LOOSELEAF | 9 | Kind of paper ... and a hint to a sequence, each starting with a different letter, found in four other puzzle answers |
| 42% | BESIDES | 7 | Also ... and, in three parts, a hint to the four longest Across answers |
| 42% | CANDY | 5 | Sweets ... and, in three parts, a hint to the four longest Across answers |
| 42% | DOWNUNDER | 9 | Nickname for 18-Across, and a hint to how four answers in this puzzle are to be entered |
| 42% | MULTIHYPHENATES | 15 | Ones with many talents ... and a hint to 17-, 24-, 35- and 51-Across |
| 42% | ARTISTS | 7 | With 57-Across, creative getaway, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 42% | NONOS | 5 | Taboos, and a hint to the four longest puzzle answers |
| 41% | HOLLYWOOD | 9 | With 61-Across, 1987 Robert Townsend satire ... or a hint to deciphering four clues in this puzzle |
| 41% | PUTINAGOODWORD | 14 | Recommend, with "for," and a hint to the start of 20-, 25- and 44-Across |
| 41% | SPLIT | 5 | With 51-Across, nitpick ... or a hint to 17-, 37- and 60-Across |
| 41% | CORNER | 6 | With 41-Across, corporate status symbol ... and a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | THEBEST | 7 | With 51-Across, Sinatra classic, and a hint to completing three puzzle answers |