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
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
The story is raw, layered, and powerful, with unforgettable characters which will be essayed by incredibly talented actors.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
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
The story is raw, layered, and powerful, with unforgettable characters which will be essayed by incredibly talented actors.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essayed
Verb
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Both sides have tried and failed to advance their partisan priorities the last few months.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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DePaul, which finished 16-16 and 8-12 in the Big East, must replace multiple seniors who tried to help coach Chris Holtmann turn the program around, including guard CJ Gunn and forward NJ Benson.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Police said in both incidents, two suspects approached the delivery driver and attempted to pay for the food with counterfeit money.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Finding the behavior suspicious, police said the officers activated their overhead lights and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Essayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essayed. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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