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

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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

So people end up trying to tough it out, like Petty and Gentner. — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026 For now, the chancellor is trying to strike a more upbeat tone than his predecessor. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trying

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trying

Adjective

In top cities like Austin, Miami and Nashville, cash-flowing properties can be harder to find.

— Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Two blue and yellow humanoid robots attempted to beat each other up with punches twice as hard as Mike Tyson’s.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of hard

Verb

The mission was expected to last until 2008, but was extended twice, ultimately stretching through to September 2017.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026
And after a few years of destination runway shows in locations stretching from Madrid to Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, Herrera returned to New York City to celebrate its anniversary year.

— Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

Each showcases human actors and their dedication to their craft in a moment when machines are attempting to replace a face, voice and life force.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
The crash happened on West Hillsboro Boulevard when a driver attempting a U-turn was struck by a motorcyclist, flipping the car, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

— Abby Dodge, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of attempting

Adjective

Because of the heat wave's dramatic effect on everyday life, Paris became a tough place to walk around in the sunshine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
But Chipotle has been in a tough spot since Niccol departed in 2024, and even as Boatwright’s plan shows signs of momentum (same-store sales have begun to tick back up again), there are open questions about Chipotle’s strategic direction.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of tough

Verb

The president was pushing back against calls by tech leaders such as Anthropic's Dario Amodei, OpenAI's Sam Altman and SpaceXAI's Elon Musk to have greater government oversight of AI.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
With yields now notching over 5%, longer-term interest rates across the economy are increasing, pushing up borrowing costs on the national debt as a result.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of pushing

Verb

Rome’s deputy mayor for sustainable mobility and transport, Eugenio Patanè, is striving to restore order and reduce traffic — and not just golf carts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
OpenAI is striving to regain the initiative in the AI race against a backdrop of growing anxiety from experts, tech leaders, and the public over the risks of frontier AI.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of striving

Verb

Massive stockpiles of methamphetamine smuggled onto the islands by cartels have seeped into the local communities, spurring a widespread addiction crisis and straining the local health system.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026
New weekend attacks also knocked two additional Russian refineries offline, further straining global refined product supplies and likely offsetting any seasonal relief.

— Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026