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essay

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of essay

1 a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view

  • school essays on what it means to be a patriot
Synonyms of essay

article, composition, paper, theme
Words Related to essay

causerie

column, commentary, editorial, feature, report, review, write-up

dissertation, thesis

tract, treatise

discourse, discussion, exposition, prolegomenon, study

2 an effort to do or accomplish something

  • my first essay at baking a cake did not go well
Synonyms of essay

assay [archaic], attempt, bash [chiefly British], bid, crack, endeavor, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl
Words Related to essay

striving, struggle, throes, undertaking

trial and error

3 a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty

  • a little homemade essay to determine the easiest way to strip the paint from the bookcase
Synonyms of essay

experiment, experimentation, test, trial
Words Related to essay

trial and error

dry run, shakedown

exercise, practice (also practise), rehearsal, tryout, workout

crucible, ordeal

attempt, effort, try

essay

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of essay

to make an effort to do

  • he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move
Synonyms of essay

assay, attempt, endeavor, seek, strive, try
Words Related to essay

fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work

aim, aspire, hope

assume, take up, undertake
Phrases Synonymous with essay

have a go at, shoot at (or shoot for), try one's hand (at)
Near Antonyms of essay

drop, give up, quit

Synonym Discussion of essay

attempt, try, endeavor, essay, strive mean to make an effort to accomplish an end. attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.
    • will attempt to photograph the rare bird
try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.
    • tried to determine which was the better procedure
endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.
    • endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains
essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.
    • will essay a dramatic role for the first time
strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.
    • continues to strive for peace

Learn More about essay

  1. See words that rhyme with essay Dictionary: Definition of essay Spanish Central: Translation of essay Nglish: Translation of essay for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of essay for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essay

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