| 100% | CUT | 3 | With the circled letters, a hint to solving seven Across clues |
| 63% | ANDY | 4 | "Toy Story" boy ... or, with the circled letters, a hint to 20-, 39- and 53-Across |
| 57% | BASEBALL | 8 | With 49-Across, a hint to the circled letters |
| 53% | DROPTHEBALL | 11 | Lose focus, and a visual hint to solving seven Across clues and a literal hint to seven Down answers |
| 52% | ARTISTS | 7 | With 57-Across, creative getaway, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 52% | UPSET | 5 | Sports shocker … with a hint to the circled letters |
| 52% | INONEEARAND | 11 | With 113-Across, heard but disregarded ... or a hint to interpreting the Across answers with circled letters |
| 52% | STILLIRISE | 10 | Classic Maya Angelou poem … or a hint to the answers to the starred clues and the circled letters, in two different ways |
| 52% | SPLIT | 5 | Small wine bottle, and a hint to solving the starred clues |
| 51% | SLICED | 6 | With 57-Across, deli offering ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 51% | DOGLEGS | 7 | Some links holes ... with a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | THREE | 5 | With the circled letters, a literal depiction of what you need to win tic-tac-toe? |
| 50% | STATIONBREAKS | 13 | Commercials, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | SETTINGBACK | 11 | Delaying, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | DOUBLEORNOTHING | 15 | Risky wager ... with a hint to the letters in this puzzle's circled squares |
| 50% | CORNER | 6 | With 41-Across, corporate status symbol ... and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | SPINTHEBOTTLE | 13 | Classic party game ... or a hint to solving the answers that intersect circles |
| 50% | GOFIRST | 7 | Lead off ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | MIXEDMESSAGES | 13 | Confusing statements ... and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | GRAINELEVATOR | 13 | Agrarian structure, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | DIAMONDHEAD | 11 | Hawaiian landmark, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | HIDDENEMOTIONS | 14 | Repressed feelings, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | WRAPPINGPAPER | 13 | Holiday purchase ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | BOWLSOVER | 9 | Leaves flabbergasted, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | PYRAMIDSCHEME | 13 | Financial fraud, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | BREAKFASTSPREAD | 15 | Morning display, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | CHANGEOFSCENE | 13 | Mental refresher ... and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | FALLINGSTAR | 11 | Celestial misnomer, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | HOPPINGMAD | 10 | Really miffed … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 50% | FOLDINGCHAIR | 12 | Portable seat, and a hint to the circled letters |