| 100% | MADE | 4 | Word that may precede "with love" or "for each other" |
| 55% | SUCH | 4 | Word that may precede or follow "as" |
| 54% | ORAL | 4 | Word that may precede "history" or "hygiene" |
| 54% | HIGH | 4 | Word that may precede "chair" or "-rise" |
| 54% | ORAL | 4 | Word that may precede "tradition" or "surgeon" |
| 53% | STAR | 4 | Word that might precede Trek or Wars at the movies |
| 52% | POT | 3 | Word that may precede the beginning of 17-, 26-, 42- or 56-Across |
| 51% | SHE | 3 | Word that may be portmanteau'd with hero or CEO |
| 50% | PRETTYPLEASE | 12 | Words that might precede "with a cherry on top" |
| 49% | ALL | 3 | Word that can precede good, for, or you |
| 48% | SOOTH | 5 | Archaic word that can follow for or precede sayer |
| 47% | PBJ | 3 | Sandwich that might be made with Jif or Skippy, for short |
| 46% | UNTO | 4 | Word that may precede itself |
| 46% | BAH | 3 | Word that may precede "humbug" |
| 46% | ALAS | 4 | Word that may precede sad news |
| 46% | CIRCA | 5 | Word that may precede a date |
| 46% | HERESTHETHING | 13 | Words that may precede an explanation |
| 45% | NEE | 3 | Word that may precede a maiden name |
| 45% | IDONTLIKETOBRAG | 15 | Words that might precede a boast, ironically |
| 45% | BADDOG | 6 | Words that might precede "Out, darned Spot!"? |
| 45% | ITSAGIFT | 8 | Words that might precede ". . . and a curse" |
| 44% | FIE | 3 | Word that may precede "thou pribbling, hasty-witted moldwarp!" |
| 44% | EDIT | 4 | Word that may precede an update to a Reddit post |
| 44% | NEE | 3 | French word that may precede a former surname |
| 43% | OGEE | 4 | Curvy little word that may have roots in the Latin word for "a support or prop" and the word "to increase, strengthen" |
| 43% | NEE | 3 | Word that may precede a maiden name in a news article |
| 43% | NEE | 3 | Word that may precede a maiden name in a marriage announcement |
| 43% | JUMP | 4 | Word that can precede each set of circled letters, forming a literal hint for entering certain answers in this puzzle |
| 43% | SELVES | 6 | Word that might follow "our-" or "them-" |
| 43% | OATH | 4 | Word that might be replaced with symbols |