as in works
the active use of energy in producing a result
the finished parade float was well worth the effort
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Recent Examples of efforts
Orbán has frequently threatened to scuttle the bloc’s efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and has decried attempts to hit Russia’s energy revenues that help finance the war.
—
Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
None of Lauren James or Erin Cuthbert’s long-range efforts went in, but that did not matter.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In 2026, diversity efforts across tech companies and corporate America are facing rollbacks.
—Brennan Nevada Johnson, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Aaron Peskin, a former San Francisco supervisor and outspoken progressive, said a law Wiener wrote inadvertently stifled local housing and affordability efforts.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
But those statewide efforts failed across the board.
—Ashley Lopez, NPR, 22 Feb. 2026
The research undercuts Orbán’s claims that continuing to buy Russian oil, despite European Union-wide efforts to phase out Russian fossil fuels, makes fuel cheaper for Hungarians.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Both of these efforts have received NASA funding.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Head coach Jarvis Ray was proud of his team’s efforts.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2026
Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
None of Lauren James or Erin Cuthbert’s long-range efforts went in, but that did not matter.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In 2026, diversity efforts across tech companies and corporate America are facing rollbacks.
—Brennan Nevada Johnson, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Aaron Peskin, a former San Francisco supervisor and outspoken progressive, said a law Wiener wrote inadvertently stifled local housing and affordability efforts.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
But those statewide efforts failed across the board.
—Ashley Lopez, NPR, 22 Feb. 2026
The research undercuts Orbán’s claims that continuing to buy Russian oil, despite European Union-wide efforts to phase out Russian fossil fuels, makes fuel cheaper for Hungarians.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Both of these efforts have received NASA funding.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Head coach Jarvis Ray was proud of his team’s efforts.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for efforts
Noun
-
Beyond the building itself, the museum holds more than 47,000 works spanning from ancient Islamic and Chinese art to pieces by contemporary masters such as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The streamer also carries several works from the beloved Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, whose films provide a refreshing alternative to Disney and DreamWorks fare.—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some of Goldsworthy’s art has also required strenuous exertions.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Vaccarello, who was born and raised in Belgium to Sicilian parents, spends a month in Los Angeles twice each year, usually in March and November, a recuperation from the semiannual exertions of the women’s collection.—
Rob Haskell,
Vogue,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Olympic organizers have gone to great and sometimes absurd pains to excise political messaging from the Games.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The duo went to great pains to source pieces from the brands and collections Bessette Kennedy wore, including Prada coats and shoes and her favored Levi denim cut.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In its First Interim Financial Report released in December, LAUSD projected a $877 million deficit — about 14% of its unrestricted general fund expenditures — for the 2026–27 school year, followed by a $443 million deficit the year after.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
But particularly concerning to him is the uncertainty regarding the return on investment companies will receive from high capital expenditures, driven primarily by investments in artificial intelligence and data centers.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Efforts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/efforts. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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