Synonyms of sought

sought

verb

past tense of seek

1

as in pursued

to go in search of

Henry Hudson was set adrift by mutinous crewmen while seeking the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pursued
• hunted
• searched (for or out)
• chased (down)
• looked up
• shopped (for)
• looked for
• cast about (for)
• foraged (for)
• quested
• cast around (for)
• rooted (out)
• ferreted (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lost
• ignored
• hid
• neglected

2

as in requested

to make a request for

came seeking financial advice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• requested
• required
• desired
• demanded
• urged
• spoke (for)
• sued (for)
• pleaded (for)
• called (for)
• claimed
• invited
• asked (for)
• solicited
• quested
• invoked
• applied (for)
• wished (for)
• importuned
• begged (for)
• enjoined
• insisted (on)
• requisitioned
• bespoke
• pressed (for)
• petitioned (for)
• clamored (for)
• exacted

3

as in tried

to make an effort to do

seek to find the best solution

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dropped
• quit
• gave up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sought

Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham sought in an opening statement last week to keep jurors' focus on the defendant, not her doctors. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Militaries often run command and control operations away from the frontlines; enemies have sought to disrupt those communications through jamming and, in the past few decades, cyberattacks. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

The development team also sought to address concerns about traffic at the intersection of Linder Road and South Trout Road. — Noah Daly august 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2026

That’s a harder one to argue while trying to figure out how the appeals board could overturn the verdict of the independent regulatory commission, namely that Abramovich’s Chelsea had sought, and gained, a sporting advantage. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Wiener has sought to position himself as a congressional candidate focused on practical public policy solutions without abandoning progressive ideology. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

As the judge noted in a footnote, the plaintiffs sought a TRO and, alternatively, a PI. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have sought assurances that the fund has been scrapped. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Stacy co-sponsored a controversial bill that ultimately died in 2023, HB 419, which sought to ban gender transition procedures, hormones and puberty blockers for minors. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026