essaying

verb

present participle of essay
as in trying
to make an effort to do he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of essaying The four-man group plays and sings with equal verve whether essaying its own engaging songs or classics by Bill Monroe, The Carter Family and The Stanley Brothers. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essaying
  1. trying
  2. attempting
  3. striving
Verb
  • Now comes the ultimate test of trying to earn a place among Europe’s elite in the Champions League group stage.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Hollywood has spent years trying to make moviegoing feel like an event again.
    — David Deal, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of trying
Verb
  • Pro tips The biggest mistake beginners make with pencil eyeliner is attempting to draw one flawless, uninterrupted stroke from the inner corner to the outer corner.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026
  • And catcher Carter Jensen threw out James Outman, who was attempting to steal second in the fifth.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Definition of attempting
Verb
  • There was so much striving, by individuals and their teams, striving for the World Cup trophy and striving against every structural indecency that conspired to compromise the game’s integrity.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Democrats have this one chance to repudiate the democratic socialists who are striving to define and control their party.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2026
Definition of striving

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Cite this Entry

“Essaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essaying. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on essaying

Nglish: Translation of essaying for Spanish Speakers

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