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
Chicago police are searching for the above suspect accused of attempting to lure a child in the Park West neighborhood on Saturday morning.
—
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Over the past two weeks, a wave of amicus briefs from former lawmakers, prosecutors, and judges has urged the 4th Circuit to uphold the dismissal, warning that the administration is attempting to sidestep statutory limits on interim appointments.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
On Sunday, the 45th/47th POTUS shared a clip of the premiere episode’s cold open, mocking Prime Minister Keir Starmer with his tail between his legs while attempting to call Trump and put his foot down.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
Just days afterward, a 36-year-old man who had previously served nearly a decade in prison for attempting to aid ISIS opened fire at Old Dominion University in Virginia.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Guidelines had barred most outlets from Pentagon The Pentagon had first issued guidance in September that said reporters could lose their press access by attempting to obtain or publish information not authorized for public release.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
The verdict was handed down Friday in a civil trial in California against Musk brought on behalf of Twitter shareholders, in a lawsuit alleging that Musk was attempting to back out of his agreement to buy Twitter or negotiate a lower price.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
The pair were detained on Thursday after attempting to enter HM Naval Base Clyde, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Glasgow.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
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
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Over the past two weeks, a wave of amicus briefs from former lawmakers, prosecutors, and judges has urged the 4th Circuit to uphold the dismissal, warning that the administration is attempting to sidestep statutory limits on interim appointments.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
On Sunday, the 45th/47th POTUS shared a clip of the premiere episode’s cold open, mocking Prime Minister Keir Starmer with his tail between his legs while attempting to call Trump and put his foot down.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
Just days afterward, a 36-year-old man who had previously served nearly a decade in prison for attempting to aid ISIS opened fire at Old Dominion University in Virginia.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Guidelines had barred most outlets from Pentagon The Pentagon had first issued guidance in September that said reporters could lose their press access by attempting to obtain or publish information not authorized for public release.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
The verdict was handed down Friday in a civil trial in California against Musk brought on behalf of Twitter shareholders, in a lawsuit alleging that Musk was attempting to back out of his agreement to buy Twitter or negotiate a lower price.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
The pair were detained on Thursday after attempting to enter HM Naval Base Clyde, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Glasgow.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
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
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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Through the Daodejing, one of the central texts of Daoism, Laozi offers perspectives from a tumultuous period of status-striving in Chinese history – and shifts our focus from comparison and competition to contentment.—
Stephen Chen,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2026
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Being imaginative and continually striving to improve your craft are two things that are difficult to teach, and both are areas in which Arieonni excels.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempting. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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