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
Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 2025
In the book, Katherine and Michael’s friends Erica and Artie try their hand at dating but Artie’s struggles with his sexuality and eventual suicide attempt prevent it from going further.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 May 2025
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025
One autumn afternoon, while a father, Nicholas, is distracted, his young son attempts to carry a large pumpkin down a flight of stairs.
—Arkansas Online, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Noun
The series travels around the land now known as the United States, meeting tribal stewards keeping ancient traditions alive, Native chefs innovating for 21st-century palates, and historians whose research attempts to recover recipes lost long ago.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 2025
In the book, Katherine and Michael’s friends Erica and Artie try their hand at dating but Artie’s struggles with his sexuality and eventual suicide attempt prevent it from going further.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 May 2025
Verb
Before this year, attempts to repeal it were quashed by adamant pushback from insurance and health care lobbyists.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025
One autumn afternoon, while a father, Nicholas, is distracted, his young son attempts to carry a large pumpkin down a flight of stairs.
—Arkansas Online, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempt
Noun
-
Not even an approximate 40-foot fall and sustained injuries on her third try in 2019 deterred her from forging ahead with her goal — rather, the scary slip was just a stepping stone in her personal journey to achieving her dreams.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
23 May 2025
-
Around 2016, after a particularly painful breakup, the Body Work author decided to do something radical: give up on dating and give celibacy a try.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
22 May 2025
Noun
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But after the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the movie was retooled with a new finale before being released in theaters on June 21, 2002.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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The Pacers, behind an unrelenting uptempo attack and superior depth, have won the third and fourth quarters in both games, as well as overtime in Game 1.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Any journey toward elevating procurement performance should begin with a reflection on value, and CPOs must strive to balance supply security with driving cost optimization.—
Matthew Buckingham,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Businesses should be able to write off the full expense of their capital investments in the year they are made, and the Senate should strive to cut spending elsewhere to balance out the revenue losses from making bonus depreciation permanent.—
The Editors,
National Review,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Police said an argument escalated to violence, and the victim suffered multiple stab wounds.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2025
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The sheriff's office said deputies responded to an assault at around 8 p.m. on Sunday on Fair Oaks Boulevard, where the victim was found on the ground in the parking lot with multiple stab wounds.—
Elizabeth Pritchett,
FOXNews.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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On Saturday, an employee at one of Smith’s restaurants shared insight into how operations have changed since the increase in raids.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2025
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Meanwhile, there’s been a stronger focus on enforcement in the country’s interior, including workplace raids.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
The racing movie arrives in theaters this summer after a longer-than-expected production that got shut down for an entire year amid the Hollywood strikes.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
28 May 2025
-
But the rebuilding effort is taking place under the cover of increasing RSF drone strikes over the past month.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
27 May 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 offensive onslaught started with seven runs through two innings, and the Bearcats put the game out of reach by adding seven runs in the fifth inning.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 May 2025
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The Cruel World onslaught on the Bay Area keeps right on rolling along, with so many acts playing the big ’80s music festival in Pasadena also performing dates up north.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempt. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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