1
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
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2
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attempts
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Her furious attempts to extricate herself from Ramirez ended with her smacking her head on the parking lot asphalt and Ramirez hitting her in the right eye, according to the arrest report.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Gafford’s night of perfection included a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds with no misses from the field, converting on all 10 of his attempts.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Brunson will inevitably find his shooting groove, but Mikal Bridges’ offensive inconsistencies reached a new low with zero points on six shot attempts in Sunday’s Lakers loss.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Jalen Brunson scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, but New York couldn't overcome 8-of-34 shooting on 3-point attempts in the second stop on its five-game trip, which began with an impressive win at Denver.
—CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Gonzales was struggling to hold his 23rd District even before the scandal, barely beating 2nd Amendment activist and content creator Brandon Herrera in 2024; Herrera is running again, along with Quico Canseco, a one-term congressman who’s made multiple comeback attempts.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
The tone and content of the materials described and submitted to the Interior Department by park managers vary widely, reflecting a mix of careful attempts to obey administration orders, confusion about what might violate them and, at times, apparent skepticism about the entire endeavor.
—Karin Brulliard, Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Building the Band was one of Netflix’s first attempts at a large-scale musical talent contest, and was dedicated posthumously to judge Liam Payne, who died shortly after filming.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Now Pitbull has come full circle, as his company attempts to demolish a childhood home in Wynwood and build an office complex to house his music label.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
The study attempts to confront that gap directly.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
While Hollywood still attempts to figure out its own fraught relationship with artificial intelligence and new technologies, a new competition is asking filmmakers to have a positive outlook on the future.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 9 Mar. 2026
But Robinhood’s attempts to create access for its retail users have been spotty at best.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Penning didn’t add much of a jolt to the Chargers’ attempts to secure more protection for Herbert in the second half of the season, often struggling to keep opposing pass rushers in front of him.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit is the latest development in an ongoing standoff between the Pentagon and one of world’s most prominent AI companies as the White House attempts to boost AI adoption in the government.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
Critics say the law attempts to do this carving with a cleaver.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
The freshman hit one-of-two attempts, giving the Spartans a 41-39 lead.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Her furious attempts to extricate herself from Ramirez ended with her smacking her head on the parking lot asphalt and Ramirez hitting her in the right eye, according to the arrest report.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Gafford’s night of perfection included a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds with no misses from the field, converting on all 10 of his attempts.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Brunson will inevitably find his shooting groove, but Mikal Bridges’ offensive inconsistencies reached a new low with zero points on six shot attempts in Sunday’s Lakers loss.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Jalen Brunson scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, but New York couldn't overcome 8-of-34 shooting on 3-point attempts in the second stop on its five-game trip, which began with an impressive win at Denver.
—CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Gonzales was struggling to hold his 23rd District even before the scandal, barely beating 2nd Amendment activist and content creator Brandon Herrera in 2024; Herrera is running again, along with Quico Canseco, a one-term congressman who’s made multiple comeback attempts.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
The tone and content of the materials described and submitted to the Interior Department by park managers vary widely, reflecting a mix of careful attempts to obey administration orders, confusion about what might violate them and, at times, apparent skepticism about the entire endeavor.
—Karin Brulliard, Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Building the Band was one of Netflix’s first attempts at a large-scale musical talent contest, and was dedicated posthumously to judge Liam Payne, who died shortly after filming.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
The itinerary included a kicking workout for Plascencia, who made 11 of 14 field goal attempts.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Now Pitbull has come full circle, as his company attempts to demolish a childhood home in Wynwood and build an office complex to house his music label.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
The study attempts to confront that gap directly.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
While Hollywood still attempts to figure out its own fraught relationship with artificial intelligence and new technologies, a new competition is asking filmmakers to have a positive outlook on the future.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 9 Mar. 2026
But Robinhood’s attempts to create access for its retail users have been spotty at best.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Penning didn’t add much of a jolt to the Chargers’ attempts to secure more protection for Herbert in the second half of the season, often struggling to keep opposing pass rushers in front of him.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit is the latest development in an ongoing standoff between the Pentagon and one of world’s most prominent AI companies as the White House attempts to boost AI adoption in the government.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
Critics say the law attempts to do this carving with a cleaver.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempts
Noun
-
Moss records his fourth 1-2-3 inning in six tries.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Given a million tries, the 1992 Burlingame Orioles (my Little League team) would not have been able to beat the 1992 Baltimore Orioles.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
According to Fairbanks, who moved to South Africa from the United States more than fifteen years ago, attacks on farms appear to be mostly economically motivated crimes.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Iran continued its daily attacks on oil and other infrastructure across the Gulf.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sweeney plays Undine Spragg, a fiercely ambitious woman from the Midwest who strives for the social heights of turn-of-the-century New York.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
As the agency continues to grow, strengthening its infrastructure, TSD strives to preserve the intimacy that first defined those early kitchen-table sessions.—
Contributor,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Choose from 21 colors, from goes-with-everything black to standout prints and textures, including holiday-ready velvet or sequins.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Weaver reminded us of the coat’s versatility while wearing a goes-with-everything matte black version.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Over the past year, assaults against ICE personnel have risen 8,000%, according to the DHS, and federal police have opted to hide their faces and identities while working in public.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In 2024, the county recorded 6,323 assaults, of which 205 involved firearms.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With a funky groove, ‘80s synthesizer stabs, party noises and a put-your-hands-in-the-air-wooo!—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The spaces get smaller and smaller as the shark approaches, radiating a sense of that closing distance until the string stabs cut into the listener like so many glistening teeth.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The lawmakers cited the case of a deaf and non-verbal DACA recipient with no criminal history who was detained last year amid the immigration raids in Los Angeles.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Then, last summer, LA became the first major US city to face large-scale ICE raids, stoking fear among undocumented immigrants and disrupting the restaurant workforce.—
Emily Wilson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nation-states now pair kinetic strikes with digital offensives.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Dynamic shifts on the battlefield — with large swaths of Ukrainian land changing hands in offensives and counteroffensives in the early years of the war — have since given way to a conflict of inches.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempts. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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