1
as in try
an effort to do or accomplish something
it took several attempts before we made good ice cream with an old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream freezer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
several attempts on the life of the country's chief drug enforcement official
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to try
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attempt
Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
After facing significant roadblocks in his defense, Darrow changed tactics and called Bryan to the stand in an attempt to prove Bryan’s literal interpretation of the Bible was unfit to base laws on.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 10 July 2025
ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
After voting for the federal measure that threatened to cause tens of thousands of Wisconsinites to lose Medicaid coverage, the battleground district Republican has attempted to take credit for securing additional Medicaid funding through the state budget.
—Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Noun
In Lebanon, Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, is mediating between Israel, Hezbollah, and the Lebanese government in an attempt to establish a new peace regime between all three.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
After facing significant roadblocks in his defense, Darrow changed tactics and called Bryan to the stand in an attempt to prove Bryan’s literal interpretation of the Bible was unfit to base laws on.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 10 July 2025
Verb
Only one of these companies, Isar Aerospace, has attempted to launch a rocket into orbit.
—ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
After voting for the federal measure that threatened to cause tens of thousands of Wisconsinites to lose Medicaid coverage, the battleground district Republican has attempted to take credit for securing additional Medicaid funding through the state budget.
—Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempt
Noun
-
As a powerful 6-foot-10, 265-pound big man, former Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball player David McCormack hit just one 3-point shot in five tries during his four-year college career.—
Gary Bedore
July 10,
Kansas City Star,
11 July 2025
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On Wednesday, the Sox completed the three-game sweep of baseball’s worst team, the Colorado Rockies, who have won just 21 times in 93 tries, with a 10-2 victory at Fenway Park, getting pitching, hitting (15 knocks) and defense in the process.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
10 July 2025
Noun
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But then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin repudiated the deal, saying a decision on the death penalty in an attack as grave as Sept. 11 should only be made by the defense secretary.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
-
The onslaught of attacks on transgender rights fueled Missouri lawmakers to enact a law in 2023 that banned gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgeries, for minors.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Founded in 886 by King Alfred the Great, The Royal Mint strives to marry its illustrious history with innovations in sustainable sourcing of precious metals.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Dunham, in turn, strives to find new ways of expressing the emotion, through disarming dialogue and affecting tableaux.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
10 July 2025
Noun
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An autopsy by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office showed Aguilar died of multiple stab wounds, including one to the left side of his chest.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
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Beverly Fletcher, 78, was found dead with stab wounds and possible blunt force trauma inside her apartment at Leisure World, a retirement community in Maryland, the Montgomery County Police Department said in a news release.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Newsweek has revealed dozens of cases involving green card holders and applicants who were swept up in the ICE raids.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
-
In one raid, federal agents detained people at a bus stop at Orange Grove Boulevard and Los Robles Avenue on June 18.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
Israel’s parallel October strike on Iran succeeded in destroying Iran’s air defense architecture, leaving its nuclear facilities exposed.—
Ilan Berman,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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What begins as a quiet rebellion erupts into a viral citywide strike, culminating in a daring heist.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
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Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
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The show issued a similar warning to viewers last year before the season six reunion as contestants had received an onslaught of online criticism.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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Miller and his platoon not only survive the onslaught in Normandy, but they are tasked with the unthinkable.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempt. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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