endeavor 1 of 2

as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something the hope that this latest endeavor will yield much information about the atmosphere of the planet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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endeavor

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb endeavor differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of endeavor are attempt, essay, strive, and try. While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

Where would attempt be a reasonable alternative to endeavor?

The synonyms attempt and endeavor are sometimes interchangeable, but attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

When might essay be a better fit than endeavor?

Although the words essay and endeavor have much in common, essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

In what contexts can strive take the place of endeavor?

The meanings of strive and endeavor largely overlap; however, strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

How do try and attempt relate to one another, in the sense of endeavor?

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

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 endeavor
Noun
To the tricky endeavor of gradually developing Michaela from a witchlike antagonist into an actual person, her husband proves a hindrance. Alison Herman, Variety, 22 May 2025 In a phone conversation with the Herald on Wednesday during a break from the team’s amateur scouting meetings in Vermont, Sweeney said the extension helps in that endeavor. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025
Verb
The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that the administration violated hundreds of laws and bypassed congressional authority by endeavoring to consolidate the number of HHS agencies from 28 to 15 and initiating layoffs of around 20,000 employees. Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 May 2025 Set against the backdrop of golden-age Hollywood, and woven with intimate family exchanges and a search for truth, Hargitay endeavors to reclaim her mother’s story — and her own. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for endeavor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for endeavor
Noun
  • His attempt to turn the briefing into a public-relations coup—and to trade on his reputation as a deft negotiator has collapsed.
    Sizwe Mpofu Walsh, Time, 23 May 2025
  • An attempt to streamline that story line would render Elden Ring not unlike Game of Thrones: a dark, twisted fantasy narrative where death rules over all.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Any journey toward elevating procurement performance should begin with a reflection on value, and CPOs must strive to balance supply security with driving cost optimization.
    Matthew Buckingham, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Businesses should be able to write off the full expense of their capital investments in the year they are made, and the Senate should strive to cut spending elsewhere to balance out the revenue losses from making bonus depreciation permanent.
    The Editors, National Review, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Two years later, he was tried again and found guilty of felony murder and second-degree kidnapping.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • The scenes of poor Pabst trying to help her while suffering the glare of her implacable egocentricity are perhaps the funniest—and, in some ways, the saddest—in the novel.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Rob Crossan January 17, 2025 Marketed as a luxury tourist destination, the Maldives struggles with the legacy of an authoritarian government and the existential threat of climate change.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025
  • That built him a three-shot lead entering Sunday's final round. Midway through his final 18, Scheffler was struggling.
    Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Halfway through his first term, Johnson is laboring diligently to shore up his support among Black voters.
    Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
  • Supreme Court justice calls it 'ridiculous' Trump cuts reach climate scientists who labored for free Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • The data doesn't lie: vaccines work, including against COVID-19.
    Lizz Schumer, People.com, 31 May 2025
  • His mother worked as a doctor in China, and juggled three jobs in the U.S. for over a decade, saving up enough to eventually open a medical clinic.
    Samantha Subin, CNBC, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Endeavor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/endeavor. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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