essay 1 of 2

noun

ˈe-ˌsā How to pronounce essay (audio)
Definition of essaynext
1
as in article
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view school essays on what it means to be a patriot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something my first essay at baking a cake did not go well

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in test
a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty a little homemade essay to determine the easiest way to strip the paint from the bookcase

Synonyms & Similar Words

essay

2 of 2

verb

e-ˈsā How to pronounce essay (audio)
as in to attempt
to make an effort to do he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb essay differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of essay are attempt, endeavor, strive, and try. While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

When might attempt be a better fit than essay?

While the synonyms attempt and essay are close in meaning, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to essay?

Although the words endeavor and essay have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

When is strive a more appropriate choice than essay?

While in some cases nearly identical to essay, strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

How do try and attempt relate to one another, in the sense of essay?

Try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

tried to determine which was the better procedure

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 essay
Noun
Dolly Parton's mass appeal, which transcends cultural, political and generational lines, is so intriguing that piles of books, essays, podcasts, TV shows and other media aim to get to the bottom of it. — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026 The essay kicked off a frothy argument in the art world, but the diagnosis was hard to ignore. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Levinthal has contributed paintings for a few of our reviews, most recently a Michael Kazin essay about American history in June last year. — Leanne Shapton, The New York Review of Books, 18 Mar. 2026 In an as-told-to essay for the Wall Street Journal, the H Is for Hawk actress spoke about her love of historical dramas and homes. — Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for essay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essay
  1. article
  2. attempt
  3. test
  4. try
  5. experiment
  6. strive
Noun
  • In a rebuttal argument, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo pointed to a scrapbook Davis kept containing articles about Shakur.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • This article is part of the Business of Influence series, examining the inner workings of content creation and how the industry is set to change in the years to come.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of article
Noun
  • Shein's Hong Kong debut comes after earlier attempts to go public in New York and London did not materialize.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Smith hit the next pitch to right field, just out of the reach of a diving attempt by Braden Montgomery for a triple.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of attempt
Noun
  • Woods was subsequently charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful urinalysis test.
    — Bob Harkins, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The quest for a perfect or near-perfect score has filled many test takers with dread.
    — Rund Abdelfatah, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of test
Verb
  • Williams, of course, is trying to grab the next elevator to stardom.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Keep it simple instead of trying to change everything at once.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of try
Noun
  • Commercial companies are addressing orbital debris, and one of them, KMI Space, has flown its experiments aboard the International Space Station, performing over 170 individual rendezvous-and-grab operations.
    — Space.com Staff, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Dipaola found that there was unexpected interest in the Airstreams for more recreational, short-term stays, and as demand grew, his housing experiment evolved into the beginnings of the hospitality experience that the company offers today.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of experiment
Verb
  • OpenAI is striving to regain the initiative in the AI race against a backdrop of growing anxiety from experts, tech leaders, and the public over the risks of frontier AI.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Behind every bottle lies a world shaped by ritual and inheritance, and by those striving to preserve or transform it.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of strive

Browse Nearby Words

esquires
essay
essayed
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on essay

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essay

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