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try

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb try differ from other similar words?

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

When can attempt be used instead of try?

In some situations, the words attempt and try are roughly equivalent. However, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to try?

The synonyms endeavor and try are sometimes interchangeable, but endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

When is essay a more appropriate choice than try?

The words essay and try can be used in similar contexts, but essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

When is it sensible to use strive instead of try?

While the synonyms strive and try are close in meaning, strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

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 try
Verb
For now, the man trying to rebuild the Russian empire is forced to negotiate with the king of Manhattan real estate. Andrew Ryvkin, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025 Which came from that kid in a dysfunctional family trying to make everybody happy by dancing around. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
Noun
Even more often, customers spotted the bakery on wheels on social media and just had to give it a try. Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025 Bogaerts stole his 13th base in 13 tries last night. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for try
Recent Examples of Synonyms for try
Verb
  • The Dade-Collier Airport is located within the Everglades, a subtropical wetland ecosystem stretching across two million acres of central and south Florida.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 24 June 2025
  • The fresh data resumes a trend of worsening consumer confidence that stretches back to the outset of 2025.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • The victim was intoxicated and had attempted to fight the driver of the suspect vehicle before being dragged down the street and then hit by the vehicle, police said.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2025
  • This marks at least the fourth time that the Heat has attempted to add Durant to its roster during the past decade.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • Video footage from the incident showed Padilla pushed to the ground and handcuffed outside the door while attempting to speak to Noem during the conference.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • On Tuesday, staffers of the agency issued a statement to push for Corrêa's resignation.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • For the striving artists, a steady job is not a compromise but a strategic advantage, a powerful catalyst for sustained creativity and personal well-being.
    Kice Akkawi, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
  • Jared, a division of Signet Jewelers, is striving to increase its relevancy to today’s customers in other ways as well.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program said Tuesday that mosquitoes trapped in the state have tested positive for West Nile virus.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025
  • So, this year, instead of testing the Islanders’ connections, Casa Amor is basically giving them all an opportunity to start from scratch.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2025
  • Finally, the city has been seeking more revenue by renegotiating leases on public property and facilities that Gloria said had provided an inadequate return.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Partnership strained as OpenAI sought new cloud providers Last year, the US Federal Trade Commission under the Biden administration began examining the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership in more detail.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 17 June 2025
  • Lewis strained his left hamstring during spring training and wound up missing 35 games because of it.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • Also on this episode: With Emmy nomination voting ending on Monday, the Roundtable takes one more look at the major categories, how the number of submissions has changed some of the competition and who didn’t bother to join in.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 June 2025
  • Orban said in February that organisers should not even bother organizing Pride in Budapest this year.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Try.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/try. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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