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try

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb try differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of try are attempt, endeavor, essay, and strive. While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

tried to determine which was the better procedure

When can attempt be used instead of try?

In some situations, the words attempt and try are roughly equivalent. However, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to try?

The synonyms endeavor and try are sometimes interchangeable, but endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

When is essay a more appropriate choice than try?

The words essay and try can be used in similar contexts, but essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

When is it sensible to use strive instead of try?

While the synonyms strive and try are close in meaning, strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

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 try
Verb
Maisie, excited to clean up her blocks before dinner on her own, became frustrated when Clementine tried to help. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 11 May 2025 Some were persecuted and even killed for trying to spread their religious beliefs. Luis Andres Henao, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
Noun
The June 5 landing try will be the second for ispace, which aims to help open the moon for further exploration and resource exploitation. Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 May 2025 Roman empires, King Charlemagne, and successive modern Italian governments have all attempted to get beyond the planning phase, but cost, time, and the challenges of building in an earthquake-prone area have meant each try has been dismissed before shovels break ground. Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for try
Recent Examples of Synonyms for try
Verb
  • The National Weather Service issued heat advisories for areas in Texas that stretch from the Texas Hill Country and the Rio Grande to the state's east coast.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • First identified in the 1970s by NASA's Viking mission, long, dark markings snake down Martian slopes, sometimes stretching across Mars' surface for hundreds of feet.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Finally, Reminders of Him, about a woman attempting to reclaim her life after spending five years in prison, is slated to hit theaters on Feb. 13, 2026.
    Maggie Fremont, EW.com, 10 May 2025
  • The Sky tried to get by without taking 3s last season, attempting a league-low 14.9 per game and averaging only 4.8 makes.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • That is a false narrative that Republicans have been pushing for years now.
    Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • King was posted up on a family deer drive when the massive buck was pushed his way.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Cupich described the pope as an organized and meticulous worker who is humble and strives to take in a variety of different perspectives.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
  • Martinez also serves as a mentor for both the Reel Champs’ Executive Diversity Mentorship Program, as well as the Group Effort Initiative Mentorship Program, which strives to create a pipeline for members of underrepresented communities to establish long-term careers within entertainment.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Cleanrooms are key as spacecraft are built and tested: Even tiny particles or contamination can impact delicate instruments and sensitive components.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • The president would have been tested for prostate cancer whilst in office.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • But two men’s wives, one with a child, are still seeking to be reunited through a family reunification program.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Keep away from windows and refrain from seeking shelter in large open rooms like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Manipulating your neck too aggressively or frequently can also strain the muscles surrounding your cervical spine, which can lead to pain, stiffness, or muscle spasms in your neck.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 12 May 2025
  • Trump's trade policies have also strained relations with key trading partners, including Canada and Mexico.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • That doesn’t mean the implication doesn’t bother him.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
  • Or Xander Schauffele, the defending PGA champion who is surely not bothered by the lack of attention on him early this week.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Try.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/try. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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