as in tried
to make an effort to do
he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move
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Recent Examples of essayed
There is a secondary love affair being essayed here beyond the one with Robert Smith, and Rodrigo did a fairly effective job in pre-release commentary of explaining how, thematically, this would be a two-part album.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 12 June 2026
After netting a Golden Globe nomination for her film debut in 1978's Corvette Summer, Annie Potts joined the cast of Ghostbusters, played the ultimate Cool Girl record store clerk in Pretty in Pink (1986), and essayed her most iconic role as barbed single-mother Mary Jo Shively on Designing Women.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
During the last 45 years or so, additional sketches for the finale have surfaced, and a number of musicologists and composers have essayed completions of the movement.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
In the process, Tarr essayed an arresting tone poem about spiritual isolation that enraptured viewers.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
Chris Willman, Variety, 12 June 2026
After netting a Golden Globe nomination for her film debut in 1978's Corvette Summer, Annie Potts joined the cast of Ghostbusters, played the ultimate Cool Girl record store clerk in Pretty in Pink (1986), and essayed her most iconic role as barbed single-mother Mary Jo Shively on Designing Women.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
During the last 45 years or so, additional sketches for the finale have surfaced, and a number of musicologists and composers have essayed completions of the movement.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
In the process, Tarr essayed an arresting tone poem about spiritual isolation that enraptured viewers.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essayed
Verb
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California state workers are likely to lose access to United Healthcare plans next year as CalPERS prepares to switch to Sutter Health Plan after the insurance behemoth tried to substantially increase 2027 premiums for public employees.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
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Later that month, a state marshal tried to serve the pair at the property itself, but was unable to do so, according to court records seen by the outlet.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The June 10 shooting began after police attempted to pull over Villarreal close to midnight that evening.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
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The player who was wrongly penalized would have the foul removed, and the player who attempted to deceive the officials would be punished in real time.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Essayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essayed. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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