Synonyms of essayed

essayed

verb

past tense of essay

as in tried

to make an effort to do

he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tried
• attempted
• sought
• endeavored
• assayed
• strove
• shot at
• hoped
• struggled
• toiled
• worked
• had a go at
• undertook
• fought
• aimed
• tried one's hand (at)
• troubled
• aspired
• assumed
• strained
• took up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dropped
• quit
• gave up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of essayed

In the process, Tarr essayed an arresting tone poem about spiritual isolation that enraptured viewers. — Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 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

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