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
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 May 2026
This helps reduce future attempts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
At Hawaii, Matsuzawa became an all-America kicker last season, making 27 of 29 field goal attempts, including 25 consecutive to begin the season.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Noun
In an attempt to spark inspiration for a new Little Death origin story, Kris pays a visit to the present-day Billy, played by a regal, knowing Gillian Anderson, who retreated from public life after that first installment and whom Kris hopes to persuade to appear in her reboot.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 May 2026
This helps reduce future attempts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Verb
Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where Jena Sims wraps herself in a bow as Brooks Koepka attempts to stay in contention at the PGA Championship.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
At Hawaii, Matsuzawa became an all-America kicker last season, making 27 of 29 field goal attempts, including 25 consecutive to begin the season.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for attempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempt
Noun
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Check out our team’s Abercrombie spring try-on to get more shopping cart inspo for Memorial Day Weekend 2026.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
14 May 2026
-
Bloomfield came in for an audition and nailed it on the first try.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
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As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
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This one way attack drone is aimed at delivering affordable mass capabilities and is engineered for adaptability, and autonomous operations.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Anyone who’s seen enough adaptations knows the difference between one that strives to apprehend the source material and one that feels derived from a Wikipedia summary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Markowicz directs from her original script, which blends drama and dark satire to broach issues of privilege, complex family relationships, inheritance, and how the elite strive to maintain polished appearances in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Fans take their own stabs pro bono, posting to Reddit their predictions for the draft’s first round, or their bespoke guesses for all two hundred and fifty-seven picks.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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On her third match point, Svitolina dug a ball out of the corner, chased one down near the service line, then charged the net and blocked the final ball past Gauff with a desperation stab.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Not coincidentally, Netanyahu’s coalition—which dominates the Knesset with a majority of sixty-four seats, out of a hundred and twenty—has renewed its legislative assault on the court.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Castro faces multiple second-degree felony assault charges involving a weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime, a misdemeanor, according to a criminal complaint.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Several other concerns were raised during the roughly three-hour hearing, including questions about how to best protect visitors and participants from federal immigration raids.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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While those behind the recent maritime raids have yet to be identified, previous ship captures have often involved young Somalis from impoverished communities and armed extremists affiliated with global terror networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
After the shutdown, Jeffries remained on the offensive.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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When Aleppo fell in late November, in part due to that tunnel operation that cut off the regime's supply lines, the rebel groups made a split-second decision to continue the offensive.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Ukraine’s long-range drone and missile attacks have disrupted energy facilities and manufacturing deep inside Russia, with three regions reporting strikes Wednesday.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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The strike ended days later with a breakthrough deal that included pay for boarding passengers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempt. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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