ATTEMPTS Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

attempts 1 of 2

noun

plural of attempt

as in tries

an effort to do or accomplish something it took several attempts before we made good ice cream with an old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream freezer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in attacks

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence several attempts on the life of the country's chief drug enforcement official

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

attempts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of attempt

as in strives

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of attempts

Noun

As Kennedy and Bessette spend more time together and grow closer, her intimidation of the spotlight and fear of invasive paparazzi often create tension in their relationship, despite his attempts to calm the situation. —

Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026 An early furor over accepting valuable gifts, including designer spectacles and Taylor Swift concert tickets, was followed by a series of policy U-turns, especially clumsy attempts to cut welfare spending that stirred anger in Labour ranks. —

ABC News, 22 June 2026 In a 2005 interview with broadcaster Charlie Rose, Raymond repeated his attempts to link present-day climate change, which is far faster and more severe than at any time in the geological record, to natural causes rather than human activities like burning fossil fuels. —

Joe Árvai, The Conversation, 22 June 2026 The company has made various attempts at agentic products before. —

Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 22 June 2026 The Mercury allow the fewest free-throw attempts per game from their opponents, and the Fever allows the most. —

Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026 Tortorella’s other attempts to jump-start the top line, such as moving Mitch Marner and Mark Stone up beside Eichel at different points, didn’t work either. —

Jesse Granger, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Plum shot three for 10, tied for her fewest attempts in a game this season. —

Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026 Understanding that, despite their attempts at reconciliation, the great divide between the Peaches and the Plums remains unwavering, Pinky does the Lord’s work to bring the entire cast together for a night of innocent fun. —

Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 15 June 2026

Verb

In a June 2 Instagram Reel, Joanna attempts to balance on a 2x4 wooden plank as Chip watches her with an amused expression on his face. —

Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026 Also like Amity Island, Widow’s Bay has a mayor who attempts to attract tourists despite a threat to their safety. —

Keith Phipps, Vulture, 15 June 2026 This isn’t the first time that attempts have been made to resurrect Rockford. —

Simon Button, Variety, 15 June 2026 The opera, an adaptation of Dorothy and DuBose Heyward’s play (itself an adaptation of the latter’s 1925 novel), tells the story of a disabled Black beggar hailing from Charleston, who attempts to rescue Bess from her drug dealer and controlling lover. —

Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 14 June 2026 By targeting the lining where the signal originates, the procedure attempts to recreate some of the drug’s effect without the drug. —

Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026 Jason Myers went 5-for-5 on his field goal attempts after Walker’s ground-and-pound effort. —

Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026 Al Pacino, in one of his most iconic roles, stars as Sonny Wortzik, a real-life bundle of raw nerves who attempts a bank robbery that quickly spirals out of control. —

Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026 In the video, the first driver can be seen shoving the second vehicle's door closed as the driver attempts to get out of their vehicle. —

Christa Swanson, CBS News, 12 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempts

Noun

Several tries later, and the app started tracking my brain waves.

— David Oliver, USA Today, 17 June 2026
New Zealand hasn’t won a World Cup match in six tries, with three losses in 1982 and bizarrely draws in all three matches in 2010.

— Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 15 June 2026