1
as in try
an effort to do or accomplish something
it took several attempts before we made good ice cream with an old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream freezer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
several attempts on the life of the country's chief drug enforcement official
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to try
to make an effort to do
after attempting—and failing—to start the lawn mower on my own, I finally succeeded with a neighbor's help don't even attempt walking on your broken foot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attempt
USA Today, 7 May 2026
When the parents’ petitions were denied, the parents crossed the border in a desperate attempt to reunite with their terminally ill son, Amaya said.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 7 May 2026
ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
Fields is correct that the bill would attempt to set statutory limits on what could be a constitutional amendment.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Noun
Court papers say the note was written previous to his suicide and in connection with an earlier apparent suicide attempt.
—USA Today, 7 May 2026
When the parents’ petitions were denied, the parents crossed the border in a desperate attempt to reunite with their terminally ill son, Amaya said.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 7 May 2026
Verb
It’s believed that everyone else died while encamped for the winter or while attempting to walk back to civilization.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
Fields is correct that the bill would attempt to set statutory limits on what could be a constitutional amendment.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempt
Noun
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Hathaway, on a two-on-one with Luke Glendening, saw his point-blank slam-dunk try denied by the left pad of Andersen, and in the closing seconds, Dvorak’s shot from the slot, set up by Konecny, rang off the inside of the post.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
Swisher, a journalist, gave both AI companionship and analog relationship building a try in this week’s episode.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Noun
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In recent years, a litany of violent, seemingly unprovoked attacks across Metro led to the deaths or severe injury of several passengers—a confirmation of Angelenos’ worst fears about the system.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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According to the Qataris, two Iranian ballistic missiles and three drone attacks led to the injury of three people in the Gulf nation.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was always expected to live a quiet life — but she’s sent on an entirely different path when her mother, a general in the military, orders her to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become dragon riders, the elite of Navarre.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
11 May 2026
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Vision Zero is the initiative striving to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Billionaire David Murdock – who held a controlling position at Dole at the time – took a stab at tourism, building a hotel at the base (still there as a Four Season’s resort) and a smaller, more intimate resort at the island peak.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
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Officers found a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds to one of her arms and torso.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Brown is expected to face multiple charges, including two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, along with weapons offenses.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
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After being medically cleared at a hospital, Villalobos-Espinoza was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, felony evading, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and an enhancement for prior theft convictions.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
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In Thursday’s season finale, Eddie is caught in the crosshairs of Anatoly Caster (Alan Starzinski), the scion of a corrupt businessman who was the target of a police raid, led by protagonist Athena Grant (Angela Bassett), for facilitating a human trafficking ring involving migrants in Los Angeles.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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Shopping malls across Southern California have also struggled to bring sales back as immigration raids continue to scare customers away.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
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When a bill to pour billions into financing Israel’s military came across Congressman Kweisi Mfume’s desk, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza had claimed a death toll of over 70,000 people, as reported by local health authorities and acknowledged as broadly accurate by the Israeli military.—
Mark Conway,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
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After a largely grotesque first quarter offensive for Minnesota in Game 3 on Friday night, Anthony Edwards lit a match that set Target Center ablaze.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Some observers allege that, because Tomahawks can be controlled with precision, the strike was intentional.—
Zohreh Saberi,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
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In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, the ministry said, two women were injured by a drone strike on a house in the southwest of the city which also sparked a fire.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempt. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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