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 former Everton midfielder had three midfield partners in the second half, with Ross Barkley and Lamare Bogarde filling in alongside as Emery shuffled his pack, attempting to invigorate his team.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
High schools spend a great amount of time attempting to defuse the violent actions teenagers see as a resolution to their problems.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Vonn, 41, was attempting to become the oldest Alpine skier to win an Olympic medal.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 8 Feb. 2026
Avoid attempting to walk to safety.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
The 41-year-old was attempting to become the oldest Alpine skier, man or woman, to medal at an Olympics, and was competing only nine days after tearing the ACL in her left knee.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Simply attempting quad jumps gives skaters a scoring advantage because its base value is so high.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Avoid attempting to walk to safety.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
Over the next several hours, the camera captured Jamall Brown attempting to lift himself up but falling partially into the cell’s toilet.
—Christopher Damien, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
High schools spend a great amount of time attempting to defuse the violent actions teenagers see as a resolution to their problems.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Vonn, 41, was attempting to become the oldest Alpine skier to win an Olympic medal.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 8 Feb. 2026
Avoid attempting to walk to safety.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
The 41-year-old was attempting to become the oldest Alpine skier, man or woman, to medal at an Olympics, and was competing only nine days after tearing the ACL in her left knee.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Simply attempting quad jumps gives skaters a scoring advantage because its base value is so high.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Avoid attempting to walk to safety.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
Over the next several hours, the camera captured Jamall Brown attempting to lift himself up but falling partially into the cell’s toilet.
—Christopher Damien, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempting
Verb
-
Kotting, who is also trying to absorb higher Medicare premiums and grocery prices, was hoping to keep her natural gas bills down this winter by sealing two upstairs bedrooms and leaving them unheated.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
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Whether Silicon Valley’s early embrace becomes an asset or a liability may depend on how voters interpret the flood of tech money — as proof of confidence in a pragmatic mayor or as a sign that the industry is trying to shape the state’s political future.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The contradictions of his time, of his life, speaking uncomfortably at the lectern, writing imperfect manifestos, suffering personal losses, standing in the open doorway of the hut on Walden Pond, holding grief, listening for deeper currents, and striving to love more.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
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What started off as a striving novelty turned into something genuinely useful, and YouTube viewers took notice.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempting. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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