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

Salgado Araujo, the department added, was shot after disregarding orders and attempting to ram an agent, who fired his weapon in self-defense. — María Verza, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Lively also accused Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of attempting to orchestrate a smear campaign against her, allegations Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have denied. — ABC News, 9 July 2026

Torrence said the analysis could be different if parties were attempting to file actual internal affairs records with the court rather than simply alleging an investigation occurred. — Ben Wheeler july 9, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Projects like Hurtigruten’s Sea Zero are also attempting to design and launch the world’s most energy-efficient zero-emission cruise ship by 2030. — Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Hornby pled guilty to attempting to export luxury items to Russia at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on July 1st. — News Desk, Artforum, 8 July 2026

Pavelski will be attempting to become just the sixth multi-time winner of the tournament that begins Friday at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada, just across the California-Nevada border from South Lake Tahoe. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

Federal health officials are attempting to track down the source of a microscopic parasite that triggers prolonged gastrointestinal illness, as domestic cases begin to climb for the summer season. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Argentina is attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026