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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attempt
Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Syria also features strongly in the selection with Jalal Maghout’s animation Recordanza, about a young Syrian writer seeking a fresh start in Berlin, and Hanna Karim’s documentary Adieu Alep, following a filmmaker’s attempt to reconnect with his native city of Aleppo after many years away.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity and do not attempt to walk through floodwaters.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Noun
The flotilla was aiming to deliver food, water and medicine to civilians in Gaza in an attempt to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the territory, which has lasted 18 years.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Syria also features strongly in the selection with Jalal Maghout’s animation Recordanza, about a young Syrian writer seeking a fresh start in Berlin, and Hanna Karim’s documentary Adieu Alep, following a filmmaker’s attempt to reconnect with his native city of Aleppo after many years away.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Ricklefs allegedly then turned into a Walmart parking lot and attempted to run over other pedestrians before hitting a store employee.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity and do not attempt to walk through floodwaters.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempt
Noun
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Pathak said this floor also houses UHealth’s largest cancer support care and survivorship resource center, which offers cancer patients a variety of services, including acupuncture, massage, wig try-ons and psychology services.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
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Even if Young made a good throw, McMillan would have been short of the first-down marker and Fitzgerald would have been left with about a 53-yard try.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The confirmation of drones over Germany comes as NATO's Denmark investigates a wave of drone disruption to its airports that officials have characterized as a hybrid attack, and coincides with Estonian, Polish, and Romanian accusations against Russia of serious airspace incursions.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Overseas activists have tried to deliver aid in the past to Gaza but have either been intercepted by Israeli forces or come under some form of attack.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Let it never be said that Taylor Alison Swift doesn’t strive to be amazing.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
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This is especially true for the young Latine children and families who are striving to learn the local language and customs of a country that’s already waging war against them.—
Priscilla Blossom,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Despite suffering 20 stab wounds, Greenberg’s death was ruled a suicide by authorities.—
Kelsey Lentz,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
-
In January 2011, first-grade teacher Ellen Greenberg was found dead with 20 stab wounds in the kitchen of her Philadelphia apartment.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Yet there has been an asymmetry between the Sturm und Drang of that operation—a midnight raid featured agents rappelling from helicopters onto a South Side apartment building—and its effect.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
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Adults and children alike were pulled from their apartments, crying and screaming during the raid, which led to the arrests of 37 undocumented immigrants.—
Whitney Wild,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In their 11 matches in all competitions, Arne Slot’s side have scored eight goals in the 83rd minute or later, with those late strikes keeping results on track but masking defensive deficiencies and a lack of coherence, at times, in attack.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Just getting to 1-1 felt like a tremendous upset, considering that only a two-out, two-strike home run from Kerry Carpenter had kept the Tigers from a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-five series.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The meeting came less than a week after investigators said 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, a former Marine, crashed a pickup truck into the Grand Blanc ward of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before firing an assault-style rifle inside.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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The agents were reportedly performing a routine patrol in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago, when the alleged assault occurred.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The onslaught of lefties, in many ways, makes more sense against these Phillies.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
4 Oct. 2025
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Swift's appearances also brought an onslaught of criticism from male fans, who were mad that her presence was distracting from the game.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempt. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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