| 100% | CHRISTMAS | 9 | Word that can precede the starts of eight key words in this puzzle |
| 67% | HEARTED | 7 | Word that can follow the starts of 11 answers in this puzzle |
| 62% | SHORT | 5 | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the eight starred clues |
| 59% | DEPART | 6 | What the last words of eight key answers in this puzzle are slangy synonyms of |
| 56% | JUMP | 4 | Word that can precede each set of circled letters, forming a literal hint for entering certain answers in this puzzle |
| 56% | GREATWHITE | 10 | Words that can precede the starts of 20-, 29- and 45-Across |
| 56% | USS | 3 | Abbr. that can precede nine key words in this puzzle |
| 55% | FRENCH | 6 | Word that can precede the starts of 20-, 28-, 46- and 57-Across |
| 55% | SOMETHING | 9 | Word that can precede the starts of 18-, 20-, 53- and 58-Across |
| 55% | FRENCH | 6 | Word that can precede the start of 20-, 35-, 43- or 58-Across |
| 55% | BUTTERFLY | 9 | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the five starred clues |
| 54% | BRAIN | 5 | Word that can precede the starts of 17-, 35- and 54-Across and 16-Down |
| 54% | BROWN | 5 | Word that can precede the starts of 17- and 62-Across and 11- and 35-Down |
| 54% | CORN | 4 | Word that can precede the start of 17- or 54-Across or 11- or 27-Down |
| 54% | GHOST | 5 | Word game ... or a word that can precede the starts of 18-, 26-, 43- and 54-Across |
| 53% | CLEAR | 5 | With 64-Across, words that can precede the starts of 18-, 31-, 38- and 55-Across |
| 53% | HOLY | 4 | Blessed, and a word that can precede the starts of 18-, 28-, 48- and 62-Across |
| 52% | VANITY | 6 | Unappealing personal trait ... or a word that can precede the start of 17-, 28-, 46- or 60-Across |
| 52% | SECURITY | 8 | Mall cop's job ... or a word that can precede the starts of 19-, 32-, 43- and 58-Across |
| 52% | JELLY | 5 | What quivering legs feel like ... or a word that can precede the starts of 17-, 27-, 45- and 60-Across |
| 52% | SANTA | 5 | It can precede eight first names in this puzzle to form the names of California cities |
| 52% | NEWYEAR | 7 | What the last four letters of eight key answers in this puzzle might be considered, cryptically |
| 51% | GOREVIDALNOVELS | 15 | What the first words of eight long answers in this puzzle are |
| 51% | AIR | 3 | Word that can precede each half of the answers to each of the eight starred clues |
| 51% | PHONETIC | 8 | Apt word spelled out by the first letters of eight answers in this puzzle |
| 49% | TEST | 4 | Any of the eight circled words in this puzzle, and what's spelled out by their intersections |
| 49% | ALLTHATJAZZ | 11 | Bob Fosse film title relevant to the starts of eight answers in this puzzle |
| 49% | FALLLEAVES | 10 | Autumn foliage ... or what happens at the starts of eight answers in this puzzle? |
| 47% | STPATRICKSDAY | 13 | Observance associated with eight key words in this puzzle |
| 47% | FOREFATHER | 10 | Ancestor ... or what the first word of seven answers in this puzzle can have? |