| ALLSWELL | "We're doing OK!" ... or, read differently, a hint to each starred answer's first word |
| BANANAGRAMS | Popular word game, or, read differently, a hint to the circled letters |
| DISC | Record, or, read differently, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| EARLYBIRD | First to arrive, say, or a hint to each starred answer's first few letters |
| INVISIBLEHAND | Unseen market force, or a hint to what can follow each starred answer's first word and precede its last word |
| ITSGOINGDOWN | Piece of smack talk ... or, read differently, a description of the starred clues' answers |
| EVENAS | While ... or, read differently, a letter pattern shared by the starred clues' answers |
| DEADAHEAD | Directly in your path, or a hint to what can precede each starred answer's first word |
| TITLECHARACTERS | *Many protagonists, and a hint to the four letters that make up each starred answer's first word |
| COINTOSS | Fifty-fifty flip, or a hint to each starred answer's first four letters |
| AGAINANDAGAIN | Repeatedly ... or, when read differently, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| GODSEND | Blessing ... or, read differently, a theme hint |
| BLINDSIDES | Surprises unpleasantly, and a hint to each starred answer's first two + last two letters |
| CROPTOPS | Navel-revealing shirts, and a hint to each starred answer's first few letters |
| GIST | Essence ... and, read differently, a hint to six puzzle answers |
| ADDENDA | Contract extras, and read differently, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| DROPPEDCALL | Telecom company's concern, or a hint to each starred answer's word-spanning connection descriptor |
| FIRSTDANCE | Traditional start of a wedding reception, or a hint to each starred answer's opening letters |
| SHORTCHANGE | Treat unfairly, or a hint to each starred answer's scrambled last word |
| DOCHOLLIDAY | *Wild West deputy who was originally a dentist (unscramble each starred answer's first word) |
