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

There have been some limited cases in which noncitizens have been criminally charged for voting or attempting to vote, including in Michigan, but it's been rare and not thought to have altered the outcome of any elections. — Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Pakistan’s security forces killed 15 militants attempting to cross into the country from neighboring Afghanistan, the military said Thursday, a sign of continuing tensions along the border. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

The players in question had been signed to NFL teams before attempting to resume their college careers. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

After attempting to settle with Epic to avoid distributing third-party app stores, Google had to follow through with that part of the judge’s order several weeks ago. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026

Chan was looking for an edge on YouTube and attempting to make money by garnering the biggest audience possible. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Kulkarni said their current priorities are to keep Bondonga from being relocated and adjudicating her green card application while also pushing her team's habeas corpus application forward, attempting to prove her detention unlawful. — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Sep. 2026

The market is attempting to judge how long high capital expenditures and elevated valuations surrounding AI can be sustained. — CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

But Bessent appears to be taking the opposite approach by attempting to engineer lower long-term rates. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026