as in trying
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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Recent Examples of attempting
The attack on the Michigan synagogue took place on the same day as a former Army National Guard member who served years in prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State group opened fire on a classroom at Old Dominion University in Virginia, killing one person and wounding two others.
—
Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office Saturday released the name of a 34-year-old man who died last week after apparently attempting to kill himself inside his cell at San Diego Central Jail.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The suspect, 36-year-old Mohammed Jalloh, who opened fire in a classroom was convicted in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, trying to acquire weapons for an attack in the United States.
—ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
However, what most people didn’t see behind closed doors was the Chicago native attempting to grapple with her success and yearning for more while dealing with loneliness and isolation.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2026
Graf was attempting to send a backhand pass through in the defensive zone, but didn’t get all of the puck.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Should Nebraska make the tournament as expected, the Huskers will be attempting to win their first NCAA Tournament game in program history.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
Tankers have avoided the narrow waterway after Tehran threatened to attack vessels attempting to transit the strait.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2026
But the most chaotic sketch was saved for later in the night, where the duo pair up again to portray a principal and teacher attempting to school an unruly class of students.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2026
Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office Saturday released the name of a 34-year-old man who died last week after apparently attempting to kill himself inside his cell at San Diego Central Jail.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The suspect, 36-year-old Mohammed Jalloh, who opened fire in a classroom was convicted in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, trying to acquire weapons for an attack in the United States.
—ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
However, what most people didn’t see behind closed doors was the Chicago native attempting to grapple with her success and yearning for more while dealing with loneliness and isolation.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2026
Graf was attempting to send a backhand pass through in the defensive zone, but didn’t get all of the puck.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Should Nebraska make the tournament as expected, the Huskers will be attempting to win their first NCAA Tournament game in program history.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
Tankers have avoided the narrow waterway after Tehran threatened to attack vessels attempting to transit the strait.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2026
But the most chaotic sketch was saved for later in the night, where the duo pair up again to portray a principal and teacher attempting to school an unruly class of students.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempting
Verb
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While startups await the president’s signature and agencies anticipate the bill’s new provisions, researchers are trying to stay afloat, some furloughing scientists until the funding becomes available.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
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The judge in the case did not force the issue, agreeing with Leiweke’s attorneys who said that trying to compel Leiweke to be deposed in the Live Nation case while facing criminal prosecution by the Justice Department violated his rights.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Serbia is striving to balance its partnership with NATO and aspirations to join the European Union with its centuries-old religious, ethnic and political alliance with Russia and strategic ties with China, a major investor.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
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As for the productions themselves, striving for authenticity in casting can be risky.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempting. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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