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attempt

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of attempt

1 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 of attempt

assay [archaic], bash [chiefly British], bid, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl
Words Related to attempt

striving, struggle, throes, undertaking

trial and error

2 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 of attempt

aggression, assault, attack, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, descent, offense (or offence), offensive, onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strike
Words Related to attempt

ambuscade, ambush

counteraggression, counterassault, counterattack, counteroffensive, counterstrike

sally, sortie

envelopment, flanking

breakthrough, foray, incursion, invasion

pillage, ravage, sack

air raid, bombardment, bombing

siege, storm

barrage, cannonade, fusillade, hail, salvo, volley

whammy
Near Antonyms of attempt

defense, defensive, guard, shield

opposition, resistance

protection, security, shelter

attempt

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of attempt

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
  • donʼt even attempt walking on your broken foot
Synonyms of attempt

assay, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, try
Words Related to attempt

fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work

aim, aspire, hope

assume, take up, undertake
Phrases Synonymous with attempt

have a go at, shoot at (or shoot for), try one's hand (at)
Near Antonyms of attempt

drop, give up, quit

Synonym Discussion of attempt

attempt, try, endeavor, essay, strive mean to make an effort to accomplish an end. attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.
    • will attempt to photograph the rare bird
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
endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.
    • endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains
essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.
    • will essay a dramatic role for the first time
strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.
    • continues to strive for peace

Learn More about attempt

  1. See words that rhyme with attempt Dictionary: Definition of attempt Spanish Central: Translation of attempt Nglish: Translation of attempt for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of attempt for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about attempt

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