| 100% | LAST | 4 | Word that precedes 5-Down in the new "Star Wars" title |
| 50% | FORCE | 5 | It "awakens" in the new Star Wars movie |
| 45% | DING | 4 | Word that precedes "Dong" or follows "Ring" in the snack cake aisle |
| 44% | STAR | 4 | Word that might precede Trek or Wars at the movies |
| 44% | JEDI | 4 | Last word in the titles of two "Star Wars" movies |
| 44% | PLAY | 4 | Word that can precede each half of the starred answers |
| 43% | NEE | 3 | Word that may precede a maiden name in a news article |
| 43% | JEDI | 4 | Final word in the title of the most recent "Star Wars" movie |
| 43% | WII | 3 | Word that can precede "Chess," "Fit," and "Sports" in video game titles |
| 42% | CHRISTMAS | 9 | Word that can precede the starts of eight key words in this puzzle |
| 42% | FOR | 3 | Word that comes before Dummies in the titles of well over 300 books |
| 42% | SHORT | 5 | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the eight starred clues |
| 42% | BUTTERFLY | 9 | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the five starred clues |
| 41% | AIR | 3 | Word that can precede each half of the answers to each of the eight starred clues |
| 40% | AMEN | 4 | Word that appears in the New Testament ... and in the phrase "New Testament" |
| 40% | CORONATION | 10 | Word in the news expected today (5/6/23) |
| 40% | BUILDING | 8 | "Only Murders in the ___," TV series starring Steve Martin that is set in New York City |
| 40% | DIE | 3 | Word that appears in the titles of three Bond films (or four, if you count one ending in “s”) |
| 39% | EPISODE | 7 | Word in every "Star Wars" title |
| 39% | HIP | 3 | Word that precedes "hop," in music |
| 39% | BRANDO | 6 | "The Godfather" star Marlon who turned down the title role in 15-/50-Across |
| 39% | KEEP | 4 | Hang on to ... or a word that can precede either half of the answer to each starred clue |
| 39% | NOELNOEL | 8 | Words that precede "Born is the King ..." |
| 39% | FINNEY | 6 | "Erin Brockovich" star Albert who turned down the title role in 15-/50-Across |
| 39% | BLUE | 4 | 1996 LeAnn Rimes song, and what can precede the starred answers in song titles |
| 39% | OER | 3 | Word that saves a syllable in "The Star Spangled Banner" |
| 38% | BREADANDBUTTER | 14 | Primary source of income ... and words that can precede the two parts, respectively, of the answers to starred clues |
| 38% | LIP | 3 | Word that precedes "gloss" or "stick," in makeup |
| 38% | ONCE | 4 | Word that precedes "upon a time" in stories |
| 38% | ONLY | 4 | Sales word that precedes the price |