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assay 1 of 2

noun

ˈa-ˌsā How to pronounce assay (audio)
Definition of assaynext
1
as in analysis
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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2
as in attempt
archaic an effort to do or accomplish something the poem about a frustrated man's last assay at greatness

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assay

2 of 2

verb

a-ˈsā How to pronounce assay (audio)
1
as in to analyze
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 to attempt
to make an effort to do assaying the task of writing his autobiography

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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 assay
Noun
The two technologies provide a new approach for non-destructive assay (NDA) testing. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 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
Verb
For example, cell viability assays measure the effect of a chemical on cell survival and growth. — Brad Reisfeld, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025 Their startup is developing machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities that will automate the assaying process for minerals in situ (on site). — Greg Autry, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for assay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assay
  1. analysis
  2. attempt
  3. analyze
  4. try
  5. dissect
  6. strive
  7. assess
  8. essay
Noun
  • The analysis of Newcastle scoring with their last four shots on target is reminiscent of Woltemade’s efficient scoring record to start last season.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The precise composition of ancient Egyptian paints, binders, adhesives, and similar materials used to make artifacts is largely unknown, in part because a full analysis would require taking samples that would damage those valuable artifacts.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of analysis
Noun
  • An aborted field goal attempt likely took some off the board for the Steelers.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • This is now the third attempt to deface this sacred memorial and turn it into a vanity project for one man’s ego.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • The teachers scanned their work and used AI to analyze how their handwriting could improve.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
  • By analyzing more than 25,000 volcanic rocks, a new study finds that Gondwana likely accounted for around 80 percent of total global land area around 500 million years ago.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of analyze
Verb
  • However, only Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin, a security chief infamous for his brutality, is likely to face execution, the rest having been tried in absentia.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Captivated by the notion, Bell and I tried it and had the time of our lives.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of try
Verb
  • Stan Wars, co-hosted by Ian Slater (H3) and Olivia Lopes (H3, Rodiculous Pod), digs into the big pop culture debates of our time, dissecting the various arguments within the entertainment world to determine who is right and who is wrong.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The original medical examiner is dead, so the replacement, Lisa Gavin, examined slides of Shakur’s bloated cadaver with the dispassion of a science teacher dissecting a frog.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dissect
Verb
  • Similarly, advertisers strive to prevent their ads from appearing next to low-quality content.
    — Roman Vrublivskyi, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Till is a member of the Firekeeper Alliance, which has close ties with the festival, and strives to decrease the suicide rate among indigenous youths through teaching them about heavy metal.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of strive
Verb
  • Baker chose to have a judge, rather than the jury, assess his punishment.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond that, Illinois has now fallen behind Republican states such as Texas that have paused to assess data centers’ effect on the state’s energy grid.
    — Patrick McNamara, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of assess
Verb
  • Larger collaboration, now being essayed by film industries as established as France and the Nordic States, is the bigger major way Africa’s film industries can also go.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
  • After netting a Golden Globe nomination for her film debut in 1978's Corvette Summer, Annie Potts joined the cast of Ghostbusters, played the ultimate Cool Girl record store clerk in Pretty in Pink (1986), and essayed her most iconic role as barbed single-mother Mary Jo Shively on Designing Women.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
Definition of essay

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Cite this Entry

“Assay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assay. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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