as in trying
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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Recent Examples of attempting
Lytvynchuk was arrested near Seattle last week and charged with harassing and attempting to harass an endangered animal in violation of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the Department of Justice.
—
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
He can also be seen attempting to take out what appears to be a yogurt container from the fridge.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 17 May 2026
In 2003, a Thunderbirds aircraft crashed while attempting a maneuver.
—Rebecca Boone, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Authorities allege Dunmars then left the scene in a Jeep Grand Cherokee before returning moments later as Hayes was attempting to leave in her Nissan Pathfinder.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Sinner is also attempting to become the first Italian man to raise the Rome trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Staveley was the financier who had spent years attempting to buy Newcastle and, backed by the contentious support of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, finally succeeded.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Bar staff are dancing atop a column attempting to pour champagne down a woman’s throat.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 May 2026
Orjuela was apprehended while attempting to flush several hundred grams of fentanyl down a toilet, court records show.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
He can also be seen attempting to take out what appears to be a yogurt container from the fridge.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 17 May 2026
In 2003, a Thunderbirds aircraft crashed while attempting a maneuver.
—Rebecca Boone, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Authorities allege Dunmars then left the scene in a Jeep Grand Cherokee before returning moments later as Hayes was attempting to leave in her Nissan Pathfinder.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Sinner is also attempting to become the first Italian man to raise the Rome trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Staveley was the financier who had spent years attempting to buy Newcastle and, backed by the contentious support of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, finally succeeded.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Bar staff are dancing atop a column attempting to pour champagne down a woman’s throat.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 May 2026
Orjuela was apprehended while attempting to flush several hundred grams of fentanyl down a toilet, court records show.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempting
Verb
-
Sullivan, though, first pushed back on the idea the Dolphins were trying to trade him at the NFL meetings later that month, calling him a priority to get extended.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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In that sense, perhaps collecting people who care deeply about the same places is a more promising digital model than trying to appeal to everyone everywhere.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The world cracked open, and now everyone’s striving to fit the jagged pieces back into a box called civilized society.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
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After the shocking results of the 2024 election, seven friends split between Black Democrats and Black Republicans gather for dinner to debate American politics, striving to find common ground over food, drinks, and laughter.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempting. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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