| 100% | COMPETE | 7 | Try for the title |
| 72% | CONTEND | 7 | Compete for the title |
| 70% | COMPETE | 7 | Try for a title |
| 69% | VIED | 4 | Tried for a title |
| 69% | PUTTS | 5 | Tries for the hole |
| 68% | KICK | 4 | Try for the extra point |
| 66% | CHALLENGER | 10 | Boxer vying for the title |
| 66% | SPAR | 4 | Prepare for the title match |
| 65% | MILD | 4 | Not exactly trying for the palate |
| 64% | ANI | 3 | Nickname for the title character of “Anora” |
| 64% | INIT | 4 | Still vying for the title (2 wds.) |
| 63% | SPINE | 5 | One place for the title on a book |
| 62% | GRASPATSTRAWS | 13 | Old fashioned leggings are in -- try for the impossible!? |
| 62% | SENATEBID | 9 | Try for a seat in the Capitol |
| 61% | PROTEM | 6 | For the time being, in some titles |
| 61% | JUSTTHETWOOFUS | 14 | 1981 hit with the lyric "We can make it if we try" ... or a possible title for this puzzle |
| 60% | POI | 3 | Food that tourists in Hawaii often try for the first time |
| 59% | APE | 3 | The title character in "Mighty Joe Young," for one |
| 59% | LABANIMAL | 9 | The title character of “Flowers for Algernon,” e.g. |
| 59% | BEST | 4 | Start of the title for every Oscar |
| 59% | OURLADY | 7 | Title for the Virgin Mary |
| 59% | SIR | 3 | Title for the entitled, maybe |
| 59% | TSAR | 4 | Title for Ivan the Terrible |
| 59% | SIR | 3 | Title for the Black Knight |
| 58% | CAT | 3 | The title character of the short story “Tobermory,” for one |
| 58% | JESS | 4 | Jack beat him for the heavyweight title, 1919 |
| 58% | NAMEDROPPER | 11 | Supercilious sort ... or the title for this puzzle |
| 58% | CONTENDER | 9 | Boxer who is challenging for the world title |
| 58% | MAILORDER | 9 | Business for The Territory Ahead or Title Nine |
| 58% | EMPEROR | 7 | Title for the leader of Japan |