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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 attempting There have been some limited cases in which noncitizens have been criminally charged for voting or attempting to vote, including in Michigan, but it's been rare and not thought to have altered the outcome of any elections. — Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Pakistan’s security forces killed 15 militants attempting to cross into the country from neighboring Afghanistan, the military said Thursday, a sign of continuing tensions along the border. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 The players in question had been signed to NFL teams before attempting to resume their college careers. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 After attempting to settle with Epic to avoid distributing third-party app stores, Google had to follow through with that part of the judge’s order several weeks ago. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026 Chan was looking for an edge on YouTube and attempting to make money by garnering the biggest audience possible. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Kulkarni said their current priorities are to keep Bondonga from being relocated and adjudicating her green card application while also pushing her team's habeas corpus application forward, attempting to prove her detention unlawful. — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Sep. 2026 The market is attempting to judge how long high capital expenditures and elevated valuations surrounding AI can be sustained. — CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 But Bessent appears to be taking the opposite approach by attempting to engineer lower long-term rates. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempting

Verb

Some days, trying harder just gives the problem more opportunities to annoy you.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
Madubuike is trying to return from a significant neck injury that cost him most of last season.

— Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of trying

Verb

However, instead of a conservative regression, Dressen has noticed institutions striving to adopt more innovative practices on a number of levels.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
But a home that cannot absorb something deeply meaningful is striving for taste at the expense of inauthenticity.

— Steven Weill, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of striving

Browse Nearby Words

attempted

attempting

attempts

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of attempting

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes