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
Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2025
Her clarion voice slices through the show’s labored attempts to be both fable and fabulous.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Fears made the first and third free-throw attempts for a 69-66 lead.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Officials said the violence spread across several city blocks as agents endured four separate attempts to ram their convoy, including near an FBI facility where demonstrators tried to breach the perimeter before police restored order.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Rae’s own early attempts at branching out through film and music were poorly received.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
Buffalo went 5/8 in the final two quarters yet ultimately finished 5/14, roughly 36% of their attempts.
—Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Bailey lit the Yellow Jackets up through the air, completing 24 of 32 attempts for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
—Manny Navarro, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
During Zelenskyy's high-stakes visit to the White House in February, relations grew tense as the world leaders discussed attempts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Widerman said any amendment to ZIM’s articles of association made without the government’s consent would be invalid, and implicitly warned against company attempts to circumvent the rights attached to the golden share.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Jan. 2026
The Warriors made only 3-of-24 field goal attempts in the third quarter, trailing by as many as 14 points.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
While authorities tried to use Tasers, attempts to stop the suspect were unsuccessful.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Towns is averaging under 15 field goal attempts per game for the first time since 2023 and just the second time since 2018.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
The result often feels like tonal whiplash as the production attempts to scratch several itches without truly satisfying any.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
Spoken by Carr at the start of that phone call in which Allura attempts to play nice.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Who is really behind the kidnapping attempts?
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
Even on low volume from deep (seven attempts), that’s a recipe for offensive success, and it was reflected in Mizzou’s 50 first-half points.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2025
Her clarion voice slices through the show’s labored attempts to be both fable and fabulous.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Fears made the first and third free-throw attempts for a 69-66 lead.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Officials said the violence spread across several city blocks as agents endured four separate attempts to ram their convoy, including near an FBI facility where demonstrators tried to breach the perimeter before police restored order.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Rae’s own early attempts at branching out through film and music were poorly received.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
Buffalo went 5/8 in the final two quarters yet ultimately finished 5/14, roughly 36% of their attempts.
—Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Bailey lit the Yellow Jackets up through the air, completing 24 of 32 attempts for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
—Manny Navarro, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
During Zelenskyy's high-stakes visit to the White House in February, relations grew tense as the world leaders discussed attempts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
Kohler made all six of his field goal attempts, including a trio of 3-pointers, and sank his only free throw.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Widerman said any amendment to ZIM’s articles of association made without the government’s consent would be invalid, and implicitly warned against company attempts to circumvent the rights attached to the golden share.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Jan. 2026
The Warriors made only 3-of-24 field goal attempts in the third quarter, trailing by as many as 14 points.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
While authorities tried to use Tasers, attempts to stop the suspect were unsuccessful.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Towns is averaging under 15 field goal attempts per game for the first time since 2023 and just the second time since 2018.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
The result often feels like tonal whiplash as the production attempts to scratch several itches without truly satisfying any.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
Spoken by Carr at the start of that phone call in which Allura attempts to play nice.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Who is really behind the kidnapping attempts?
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempts
Noun
-
After an all-too-easy blowout over the New York Jets at the Meadowlands, the Bills won a single road game over their next four tries, including losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Golden State continued to create separation in the fourth quarter, holding a double-digit lead for much of the fourth and cruising to a win, their sixth in their last eight tries.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The agency was established in 2003 after the 9/11 attacks.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Ukraine's security service said that five rescue workers suffered injuries while responding to the site of ongoing attacks.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Through educational programs, community outreach and strategic resource management, the district strives to ensure sustainable groundwater supply for current and future generations.—
Claire Marks,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Zermatt strives to be a high-class mountain resort, but for active guests.—
Rick Steves,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 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
-
Federal officials have said agents, including those part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are seeing increases in assaults and threats against them.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
-
As in previous years, almost all the assaults on responsible growth management start with the premise that local government leaders can’t be trusted to guide (or even listen to) their own communities.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Does anyone, including the creators of this admittedly atmospheric combo of supernatural spookiness, miscellaneous folk-horror debris, slasher-flick shenanigans, vague stabs at gender politics, and blatant cakesploitation?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 Nov. 2025
-
There were stabs at horny lounge jazz, a melodramatic Latin guitar ballad, even a folksy blues number.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Not only has Rodrigo been vocal in her opposition to Trump, endorsing his opponent Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, but she’s also specifically called out his harsh crackdown on immigration by way of ICE raids this past year.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Von had been Trump-friendly before the gruesome and heartbreaking videos of the ICE raids targeting working immigrants started going viral on social media.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Decades of military offensives, however, have considerably weakened Abu Sayyaf and other such armed groups, and Philippine military and police officials say there has been no recent indication of any foreign militants in the country's south.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Russian forces are intensifying offensives in Donetsk, expanding long-range strikes on cities and energy infrastructure, and pressing for territorial concessions.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempts. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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