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
Eventually, Isla got a job with the Waves — as head of charitable endeavors — while her brothers Cam (Justin Theroux), Ness (Scott MacArthur), and Sandy (Drew Tarver), continued to run the team from the front office as president, General Manager, and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025 She’s often dismissed for her past modeling endeavors. Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images The Super Bowl halftime show ran for over 30 years before endeavoring to spotlight its first rap verse. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025 Under Trump, Washington is poised to continue to see China as its foremost global challenger and endeavor to build domestic sources of strength. Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for endeavor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for endeavor
Noun
  • The politically motivated charges against me are nothing more than an attempt to silence my fight for democracy.
    Imran Khan, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025
  • But most foods know no gender, and brands risk alienating certain groups through the attempt of specifically alluring another.
    Andrew Watman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Rogers cared deeply about the children his show touched, striving to spread kindness and make the world a better place.
    Makena Gera, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • If errors are made, they will be flagged and corrected as needed, while striving to do what's best for the American people.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Then there are your average Joes, fans of the puzzle who want to try their hand at solving it.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Abou Sangaré was the first winner of the night, winning Best Male Revelation for his breakout role in Souleymane’s Story as an African immigrant trying to survive in the mean streets of Paris.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Courtney Eaton is still struggling to accept Lottie’s fate while playing the character’s teen counterpart in the ’90s wilderness.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
  • And that excludes the knock on effects that might ensue The aerospace industry, and Boeing in particular, has been struggling for the past five years to shore up its fragile supply chain in the wake of the pandemic shutdown and multiple quality issues.
    Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, this post-neoliberal ideology and its adherents did not take tradeoffs seriously enough, laboring under an illusion that previous policymakers were too beholden to economic orthodoxy to make real progress for people.
    Jason Furman, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Employees who labored long hours on a dairy farm were disappointed on payday when their checks showed no overtime pay and was missing compensation for regular hours worked, Minnesota police said.
    Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • As of late, Goodman, an Oscar winner, has been working mostly in the TV space.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The artists worked on their own endeavors after the group disbanded in the late 1990s, which the AP attributed to creative differences, as well as miscommunication, finances, and the pressures of fame.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Endeavor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/endeavor. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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