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
1
as in stretching
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
you're trying my patience
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
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
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Recent Examples of trying
Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
But agricultural leaders see this year as one of the industry’s most trying periods, beset by economic and political factors that could significantly reduce production.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
Administration officials labeled Good and Pretti domestic terrorists and said Good, who was also behind the wheel of her car when shot, was trying to run officers over.
—Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trying
Adjective
Jax is in the middle of his most trying experience since his rookie season.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
But agricultural leaders see this year as one of the industry’s most trying periods, beset by economic and political factors that could significantly reduce production.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
Verb
The other played out internally, where the Nets were trying to accelerate growth, teach accountability and figure out which young pieces could handle a larger share of the future.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
Administration officials labeled Good and Pretti domestic terrorists and said Good, who was also behind the wheel of her car when shot, was trying to run officers over.
—Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trying
Adjective
-
His performance was badly needed on a night where runs were hard to come by for both sides, and after the game went to extra innings still scoreless the Red Sox finally broke through with a walk-off single by Masataka Yoshida in the bottom of the 10th to win 1-0.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
But some days are harder than others.—
Kelsy Mittauer,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Video footage shows motorists in the southeast African country of Mozambique waiting for hours at fuel stations as shortages grip the country, with lines of traffic stretching for blocks and drivers traveling between multiple stations in search of petrol or diesel.—
Yarden Segev,
NBC news,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The move represented the shattering of a tradition of bipartisan support for public broadcasting stretching back more than a half-century.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The seizure is an escalation of the blockade and comes after Iran fired upon commercial vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz earlier Sunday.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
19 Apr. 2026
-
However, in that same May 2025 assault case, Garcia Moran pled guilty to attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, a Class 6 felony.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There were others like it against Ohtani as well, showing the Mets are still fouling off tough pitches and trying to keep at-bats alive, and some standout defensive plays made as well.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The toughest day belonged to someone who didn't even play.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Somebody who is just living greatness and never rests on that laurel but is always pushing herself to expand as an artist.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But for Ternus, perhaps the most critical aspect of his new job will be pushing the company deeper into AI, where it's lagged many of its megacap peers.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Everything is going to plan when, just hours after launch, a series of unexplained events engulf Sutherland in mystery and risks destroying everything Mirren’s been striving for.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Linda is a ball of nervous energy, a blue-collar divorcée, and a woman striving to turn her dysfunctional children into a model family for their New Jersey town.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the wake of the extinction, on a planet beset by extreme swings in climate, with long periods of searing heat and brutal drought, Lystrosaurus flourished, becoming the most abundant terrestrial vertebrate around.—
Kate Wong,
Scientific American,
15 Apr. 2026
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By his third hosting gig in 2014, he was joined onstage during his monologue by Leonardo DiCaprio, his co-star in the searing satire The Wolf of Wall Street, a Martin Scorsese picture that netted Hill his second Oscar nomination for best supporting actor after Moneyball just three years earlier.—
Josh Spiegel,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This practice reduces straining and prevents waste from lingering, which helps sustain your microbiome health.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Iran internet blackout enters 46th day, straining economy Web traffic in the country is around 1% of prewar levels; Starlink is blocked using military-grade jamming, Tom’s Hardware reported, and possession of a terminal is a crime anyway.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trying. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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