Synonyms of attempting

attempting

verb

present participle of attempt

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trying
• striving
• seeking
• endeavoring
• essaying
• assaying
• hoping
• shooting at
• struggling
• aiming
• having a go at
• working
• trying one's hand (at)
• toiling
• fighting
• undertaking
• troubling
• aspiring
• straining
• assuming
• taking up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dropping
• giving up
• quitting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of attempting

Although other states have moved forward with attempting to execute inmates a second time, in those cases, the first try had been halted before any drug actually began flowing. — Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Godrich was attempting to move toward retirement, and Harrison was burnt out. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2026

Several players from both teams can be seen attempting to strike each other and pulling at their jerseys in a video shared on social media. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

John Bennett, who was hanged at Fort Leavenworth in 1961 for raping and attempting to murder an 11-year-old girl in Austria. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026

Players will be penalized for attempting to push off or otherwise use their off arm to create space. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Police say violations can take different forms, from drivers attempting to beat a traffic signal to drivers making a right turn without stopping as required. — Nina Burns, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

The plot beneath the tower is owned by the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, the college on Astor Place that is attempting to stabilize its own finances after facing down an extinction-level event several years ago. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 7 Oct. 2026

The ending’s weight comes from the huge scope of the Trask family’s grief, but even more, its emotional heft comes from how clearly this East of Eden sees Lee, the person who has always understood the things the Trasks are still attempting to learn. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026