TRYING Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

trying 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtrī-iŋ

Definition of trying

as in hard

difficult to endure a harrowing account of the trying conditions experienced by the climbers before they were rescued

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of try

as in stretching

to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress you're trying my patience

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in attempting

to make an effort to do try to unlock the door will try to call later tonight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 trying

Adjective

When your spouse passes away, this can be a very trying and confusing time. — Thomas Hager, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025 Jax is in the middle of his most trying experience since his rookie season. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025

Verb

And despite years of trying to stop the war from breaking out in Yemen, the pressure Trump imposed on Iran was expected to eventually trigger a Houthi push on the kingdom. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 There’s no point in trying to do that story again or better than the way it was done. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trying

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trying

Adjective

Two innings later, the Dodgers took the lead again, rewarded for hard contact as the Brewers’ defense showed its first signs of sloppy play.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Games Can’t Gamble on Talent Opportunities to develop emerging talent are becoming harder to find, particularly in video games, van Beek said.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

Verb

Erected on a hillside in 1938, Fallingwater appeared as a matrix of rectangles with low and flat horizontal lines stretching across the planes of the house.

— Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
Blue crabs and crawfish are sourced from Louisiana, while shellfish such as oysters, Manila clams and cherrystone clams arrive from waters stretching from the East Coast to Asia.

— Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

And as Ternus thumbs through the $1,999-and-up phone, attempting to drag a photo into a text-message box, eagle-eyed viewers notice his hands quivering.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Featuring so many characters and elements from the games that non-aficionados are left desperately attempting to keep up, Street Fighter tries to thread the needle between fan service and welcoming the uninitiated.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of attempting

Adjective

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones considers this the perfect balance between a not-too-fussy and not-too-structured chignon, a style that sounds tough to style without a professional team but is actually quite easy to master at-home.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Coming off that dominant performance against the Yankees, Rasmussen went six-plus tough innings.

— Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of tough

Verb

Thank you to all the Filipino artists who remain passionate and tireless in pushing the boundaries of where Filipino music can be taken globally.

— Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
At its 2026 national summit, the book-ban-pushing, DEI-opposing, trans-fearing Moms of Liberty group unveiled a new AI tool designed to monitor school board agendas across more than 13,000 school districts nationwide.

— Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of pushing

Verb

While Indiana and Hoover are striving for perfection as the program aims to defend its national title, TCU is just hoping to score more than two touchdowns against a Power Four opponent.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
The Monitor revisits three young families striving to live full lives amid Russia’s military invasion.

— Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of striving

Adjective

After winning the prestigious Golden Eye, Plambech returns with another searing analysis of the immigrant experience.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
The durable porcelain enamel exterior resists chipping and cracking, while the matte black interior enhances browning and searing.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of searing

Verb

Gas, groceries, insurance, rent and power bills are eating paychecks, and growth is straining our roads and schools.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Elleson has said Medicare should be primarily for older Americans and has suggested that immigrants are straining healthcare resources.

— Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026