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 video shows workers at the Hyundai plant in Ellabell, Georgia, being detained after attempting to flee during Thursday’s raid.
—
Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Crews are attempting to contain the fire on its active edge in the Long Meadow area.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
First responders were attempting to break up the fight between Farthing and another man, Kevin Rushing, when Farthing allegedly kicked a deputy in the face.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
After all, in the past, FSG has tried to take advantage of the good times by attempting to push through controversial measures in the name of progress.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Researchers from each, plus the United States, were attempting to decipher the challenges presented by opposing either a regime or a decaying democracy.
—Ron Scherf, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Theodor Kaluza added extra dimensions, attempting to unify gravity with electromagnetism.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 5 Sep. 2025
Days later, Addario is in London attempting to adjust to domestic life while on deadline.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
For public safety programs that rely on spotting sharks near beaches, or for scientists attempting to estimate population sizes, these biases mean aerial surveys provide only a partial and sometimes misleading picture.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Crews are attempting to contain the fire on its active edge in the Long Meadow area.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
First responders were attempting to break up the fight between Farthing and another man, Kevin Rushing, when Farthing allegedly kicked a deputy in the face.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
After all, in the past, FSG has tried to take advantage of the good times by attempting to push through controversial measures in the name of progress.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Researchers from each, plus the United States, were attempting to decipher the challenges presented by opposing either a regime or a decaying democracy.
—Ron Scherf, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Theodor Kaluza added extra dimensions, attempting to unify gravity with electromagnetism.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 5 Sep. 2025
Days later, Addario is in London attempting to adjust to domestic life while on deadline.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
For public safety programs that rely on spotting sharks near beaches, or for scientists attempting to estimate population sizes, these biases mean aerial surveys provide only a partial and sometimes misleading picture.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempting
Verb
-
Hit Man Based on an outrageous true story, Richard Linklater's 2024 action rom-com sees Glen Powell donning the many disguises of Gary Johnson, a New Orleans Police Department contractor who poses as a hitman to arrest those trying to hire him.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Panouses regularly fields inquiries from investors, scammers and people in need, all trying to reach his clients.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The occasion is an event held by the Women’s Coaching Alliance, a group striving to diversify football staffs.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Drown is now striving to be able to flip sleeping clients without waking them up.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempting. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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