| 100% | STATE | 5 | With 70-Across, what the first word of each long Across answer is vis-à-vis the bracketed place in its clue |
| 51% | THATWASNTON | 11 | With 70-Down, "Never would've predicted this scenario," and what can be said about the first word of the answer to each starred clue? |
| 50% | GOD | 3 | What each set of circled letters is, relative to the first word in its answer |
| 49% | GOREVIDALNOVELS | 15 | What the first words of eight long answers in this puzzle are |
| 49% | JOHNGRISHAMNOVEL | 16 | What the first word of each of seven answers in this puzzle is, when preceded by “The” |
| 48% | MIRROR | 6 | With 102-Down, what the second halves of each asterisked answer are, vis-à-vis the first halves (well, almost...) |
| 46% | SYLLABLES | 9 | What the first word of the answer to each starred clue counts, with respect to the second word |
| 45% | COMINGINHOT | 11 | Arriving with great speed, and what the first words of the answers to the starred clues are doing? |
| 44% | STATE | 5 | With 39 Across and 33 Down, what each syllable of the answer to each starred clue is |
| 43% | HIDEINPLAINSIGHT | 16 | What words concealed by the other four longest Across answers do ... and also, what each of them is |
| 43% | ITSINTHEBAG | 11 | "We have this won" ... or what could be said about each of the first words of the answers to the starred clues |
| 43% | BROKEN | 6 | With 49-Across, it keeps repeating itself ... and, based on the first and last letters, an apt description of each answer to a starred clue |
| 42% | DEADEND | 7 | Like jobs with no future ... and what the start of each answer to a starred clue can be? |
| 41% | NUTSANDBOLTS | 12 | Essentials, or what the first words of the answers to the starred clues are |
| 41% | FLATFINISH | 10 | Paint choice ... and what the first word of the answers to starred clues can literally be |
| 41% | HOME | 4 | There's no place like it ... or a word that can precede either half of the answer to each starred clue |
| 41% | CENTERPIECE | 11 | Pivotal element, and what each word in quotes in the starred clues literally is to its answer? |
| 41% | ENDGAME | 7 | Chess match climax, and what the last word of each answer to a starred clue can have |
| 40% | ONTHELINE | 9 | In jeopardy ... and where the first words of the answers to starred clues can be found |
| 40% | TEAMPLAYERS | 11 | Ones unconcerned with individual achievements ... or what both words in the answers to the starred clues are examples of |
| 39% | RUNNINGMATE | 11 | Vice presidential hopeful, and what the first part of the answer to each starred clue can be |
| 39% | HAILSTONE | 9 | What each of the four longest answers is a term for |
| 39% | FALLBACK | 8 | "Spring forward" partner (a reminder for November 5th) ... and what the last word of each answer to a starred clue can literally have |
| 39% | PINACOLADA | 10 | What I'm going to have after I've finished writing these clues and it's spelled out with the first two letters of five of the longest puzzle answers |
| 39% | BANKOPENING | 11 | 9:00 AM weekday event, typically ... and what the first word in the answers to starred clues can be |
| 39% | IBELIEVEICANFLY | 15 | R. Kelly hit whose last title word is aptly rhymed with "sky" in the lyrics ... and a hint to the starts of the other four longest puzzle answers |
| 39% | EYE | 3 | With 65-Across, what the last words of 18-, 35- and 56-Across are to each other |
| 39% | HORSEAROUND | 11 | Engage in tomfoolery ... and a hint to what goes with each part of the answers to starred clues, but not in the same way |
| 39% | WORKSWITHOUTANET | 16 | Has no plan B … or, when parsed differently, what each of the starred clues does vis-à-vis its answer? |
| 39% | SPEAKOFTHEDEVIL | 15 | "We were just talking about you!" and a hint to the first words of the answers to the starred clues |