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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attempts
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
The Knicks treated the fans who made the trip to a historic performance, making 12 of their first 13 attempts from 3-point range and tying an NBA record with 18 made 3-pointers in the first half.
—Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2026
So, their past attempts to steal an election were to steal it for a guy that's made life tougher.
—Arkansas Online, 11 May 2026
Trump has also reportedly made attempts to wrest control over the Smithsonian Institution.
—News Desk, Artforum, 11 May 2026
Following her coach’s demands, the guard is never hesitant to shoot from beyond the arc, which is evident in her 21 attempts from deep in two games.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 11 May 2026
The second impeachment came more than nine months after the country’s Supreme Court voided the first over a constitutional technicality, but the top court’s decision did not prevent any future attempts.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 11 May 2026
The poll also found that one in three Americans believes at least one of the three assassination attempts against Trump since 2024 was staged.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Bellinger has recorded five steals on seven attempts.
—Data Skrive, New York Times, 11 May 2026
ABC News, 12 May 2026
Benicio del Toro plays businessman Zsa-zsa Korda, who takes the most recent of several assassination attempts seriously.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 11 May 2026
Through that gesture, Chile attempts to tell a story of a nation that has left its past behind – without speaking about the dictatorship.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 11 May 2026
The Timberwolves made this a game despite a brutal start, missing their first 12 field goal attempts.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Previous studies investigated several of these features individually, but the new work attempts to reproduce the basin’s shape, crustal asymmetry, and impact direction within a single impact scenario.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
And Paton’s now entrenched as the Broncos’ primary front-office decision-maker for years to come, as Denver attempts to leap into a wide-open Super Bowl window.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
But some of the biggest voices in the game, including UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma, say increasing the number of teams attempts to fix something that wasn’t broken and that there are bigger issues, namely transfer rules, that should be addressed.
—Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Walker converted zero short yardage rushing attempts a year ago.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
Negotiations, compromise, limited strikes, sanctions, temporary deals—none of them stopped, or could stop, Iran’s drive for nuclear-weapons capacity, its incessant efforts to subvert neighbors, or its attempts to destroy the state of Israel.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
The Knicks treated the fans who made the trip to a historic performance, making 12 of their first 13 attempts from 3-point range and tying an NBA record with 18 made 3-pointers in the first half.
—Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2026
So, their past attempts to steal an election were to steal it for a guy that's made life tougher.
—Arkansas Online, 11 May 2026
Trump has also reportedly made attempts to wrest control over the Smithsonian Institution.
—News Desk, Artforum, 11 May 2026
Following her coach’s demands, the guard is never hesitant to shoot from beyond the arc, which is evident in her 21 attempts from deep in two games.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 11 May 2026
The second impeachment came more than nine months after the country’s Supreme Court voided the first over a constitutional technicality, but the top court’s decision did not prevent any future attempts.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 11 May 2026
The poll also found that one in three Americans believes at least one of the three assassination attempts against Trump since 2024 was staged.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Bellinger has recorded five steals on seven attempts.
—Data Skrive, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
Even attempts to remove it can make the situation worse, as fragments can break off and spread further.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Benicio del Toro plays businessman Zsa-zsa Korda, who takes the most recent of several assassination attempts seriously.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 11 May 2026
Through that gesture, Chile attempts to tell a story of a nation that has left its past behind – without speaking about the dictatorship.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 11 May 2026
The Timberwolves made this a game despite a brutal start, missing their first 12 field goal attempts.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Previous studies investigated several of these features individually, but the new work attempts to reproduce the basin’s shape, crustal asymmetry, and impact direction within a single impact scenario.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
And Paton’s now entrenched as the Broncos’ primary front-office decision-maker for years to come, as Denver attempts to leap into a wide-open Super Bowl window.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
But some of the biggest voices in the game, including UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma, say increasing the number of teams attempts to fix something that wasn’t broken and that there are bigger issues, namely transfer rules, that should be addressed.
—Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Walker converted zero short yardage rushing attempts a year ago.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempts
Noun
-
The White Sox beat the Royals 6-5 on Wednesday night at Rate Field for Chicago’s fourth victory in six tries against KC this season.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
-
Donovan Mitchell has never been out of the second round in eight previous tries.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
At the most recent debate, hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52 on May 6, the seven candidates again clashed over housing and immigration, while Becerra and Steyer faced fierce attacks from both sides of the political spectrum, The Los Angeles Times reported.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
As Miranda faces public outcry and the pressures of a downturning publishing industry, Andy once again strives for her approval amid her steadfast pursuit of rigorous journalism.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
2 May 2026
-
Dan Drazen, Trinity’s vice president of development, said the overarching redevelopment design strives to make Mary Shepard Place more resemble what the neighborhood looked like prior to the construction of Bellevue Square in 1942 and what still exists today in the surrounding area.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Does this mean those pop-goes-punk comp albums are coming back?—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Except then there’s the chance of being FUNNELED, placed on the rails and headed for a very specific destination, instead of the OPEN-WORLD anything-goes of traditional D&D.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The girl reported the assaults to her elementary school teacher while Dixon was incarcerated on unrelated charges, according to court records.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Sawtelle said Coogler also has been punished while awaiting trial in jail for being involved in assaults on other inmates.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
While a warm, four-bar bassline chugs alongside dubby stabs and bouncy swells, BEA1991’s vocals switch from nonchalant monotone to falsetto in a way that sounds like an involuntary yelp of joy.—
Reid BG,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
His tight chord stabs, jazzy voicings and glinting tone are an indelible sonic signature, up there with Louis Armstrong’s trumpet blasts and Aretha Franklin’s rolling, tolling gospel piano.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Several other concerns were raised during the roughly three-hour hearing, including questions about how to best protect visitors and participants from federal immigration raids.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
While those behind the recent maritime raids have yet to be identified, previous ship captures have often involved young Somalis from impoverished communities and armed extremists affiliated with global terror networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The Oilers won nine series in the last four years and represented the West in unsuccessful offensives against the Florida Panthers in each of the past two Junes.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
The army has retaken territory from ethnic militias, including the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which had launched powerful offensives along with pro-democracy resistance forces in northeastern Myanmar near the Chinese border and in western Myanmar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempts. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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