assays 1 of 2

noun

plural of assay
1
as in analyses
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole a metallurgist did an assay on the metal and determined it contained nickel

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Relevance

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2
as in attempts
archaic an effort to do or accomplish something the poem about a frustrated man's last assay at greatness

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assays

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of assay
1
as in analyzes
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships the company assayed a sample of the rock to see if it contained gold in quantities worth mining

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tries
to make an effort to do assaying the task of writing his autobiography

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of assays
Noun
One study evaluated the anticancer potential of citrus peels on in vitro (test tube) assays and in vivo (living organism) cancer models. — Kathi Valeii, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2026 The GeneXpert assays routinely used during Ebola responses were developed primarily to detect Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), the species responsible for the devastating West African epidemic of 2014-2016 and most subsequent Ebola outbreaks. — Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 1 July 2026 To work around these limitations, epidemiologists in the field have turned to broader-spectrum diagnostic kits and alternative rapid assays, though shortages of testing supplies and the logistical difficulties of operating in remote outbreak regions continue to hamper response efforts. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May 2026 So, as long as your tests involve one of the assays that Finch can handle, then there’s an additional step that can be performed by the system. — ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026 Having completed space vacuum and temperature tests, the observatory only has a few assays left. — Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026 Common testing methods include reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, viral culture and immunofluorescence assays. — Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026 But while most of that capital flows into drug discovery, the white space is in clinical infrastructure—where predictive assays can shift spend from catastrophic claims to actuarial foresight. — Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 Also, many tests—or SARS-CoV-2 assays—are difficult to perform in large numbers. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 July 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assays
  1. analyses
  2. attempts
  3. analyzes
  4. tries
  5. investigations
  6. goes
  7. dissects
  8. strives
Noun
  • Steinem’s distinctly stylish look – she was often photographed in mini-skirts and aviator sunglasses with a curtain of long, straight hair – sometimes triggered reductionist analyses.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Howden has completed engineering evaluations, created three-dimensional design models, carried out supporting analyses and held formal design reviews with NANO Nuclear.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of analyses
Noun
  • Utilizing quick, short passes, Hayes completed 14 of his first 16 attempts, including a 26-yard touchdown strike to sophomore tight end Ian Figi that gave Naperville Central a 14-0 lead.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • McIntire is going batty — in a good way — over attempts to investigate the elusive western mastiff.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of attempts
Verb
  • Course material analyzes Parton’s relationship with feminism and her aversion to politics, among other topics.
    — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Roblox's voice safety classifier analyzes speech for policy violations in real time.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of analyzes
Verb
  • Linney’s Guardian tries to draw out some resentment from her new candidate, but John expresses (or feigns) sympathy for Hal, who was betrayed by his father figure Sinestro, an experience John likens to his own complicated upbringing.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • However, if a person tries to inject the drug, naloxone blocks buprenorphine’s opioid effects, triggering withdrawal in a person with opioid dependence.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of tries
Noun
  • Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations, breaking news for USA TODAY.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Homeland Security spokesperson indicated there would be more to the investigations, saying officials had identified more than 24,000 potential noncitizens who had been referred to Homeland Security Investigations.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of investigations
Noun
  • The first phase of the railway that the Colorado Connector (CoCo) will make trips on goes from Denver up to Boulder, on to Fort Collins.
    — Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Does this mean those pop-goes-punk comp albums are coming back?
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of goes
Verb
  • Filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain crafts a taut supernatural drama that dissects the patriarchy hiding beneath the veneer of a fairytale wedding.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • This German production, predominantly shot in Ukraine, carefully dissects how a gender transition and Russia’s invasion converge on the love between Olya (Tania Myronyshena) and Oleh (Markus Bright).
    — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissects
Verb
  • This is all while Venus in Libra strives for justice, balance, cooperation and relationships that feel mutually considerate.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Chesney called Martin an unbelievable leader and said that his energy will give people a window into what his program strives to look like.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of strives

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Cite this Entry

“Assays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assays. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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