ATTEMPTING Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

attempting

verb

present participle of attempt

as in trying

to make an effort to do after attempting—and failing—to start the lawn mower on my own, I finally succeeded with a neighbor's help don't even attempt walking on your broken foot

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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 attempting And as Ternus thumbs through the $1,999-and-up phone, attempting to drag a photo into a text-message box, eagle-eyed viewers notice his hands quivering. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Featuring so many characters and elements from the games that non-aficionados are left desperately attempting to keep up, Street Fighter tries to thread the needle between fan service and welcoming the uninitiated. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 Earhart went missing on July 2, 1937, while attempting to become the first person to fly around the equator. — Lana Zak, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Ecuadorian authorities have caught people attempting to smuggle iguanas multiple times this year. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026 The Hotel & Gaming Trades Council union, which oversees the 378 staff members working at the Plaza, will be attempting to place them in different jobs, The New York Times reported. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026 De La Cruz is attempting to stave off a potent challenge in the neighboring 15th District from Tejano music star Bobby Pulido, who is barnstorming the district one quinceañera at a time. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 Days later, on October 5, OpenAI installed a camera in that conference room, and the CCTV footage allegedly showed Alfozan attempting to retrieve the recording device that same day. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026 Within a day, his employer started receiving anonymous messages attempting to connect him to the case. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempting

Verb

An Armenian alchemist named Avedis was trying to turn base metal into gold.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
The worry is that Djrum might be trying a little bit too hard to impress, sacrificing listenability for technical expertise and look-at-this hyper-eclecticism.

— Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of trying

Verb

And those striving for zest under these circumstances may benefit from assistance from a mental health professional like a psychologist, a physical health provider like a physician, or a personal trainer or fitness instructor.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
There was a phone booth across the street where striving actors would take calls from their agents, before cell phones.

— Sam Kashner, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of striving

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attempted

attempting

attempts

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“Attempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempting. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of attempting

verb

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