as in hard
difficult to endure
a harrowing account of the trying conditions experienced by the climbers before they were rescued
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in stretching
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
you're trying my patience
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in attempting
to make an effort to do
try to unlock the door will try to call later tonight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trying
Thomas Hager, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Jax is in the middle of his most trying experience since his rookie season.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of businesses in Chicago, notably in immigrant neighborhoods, are still trying to recover from a downturn in sales after being hit from all sides by intense immigration enforcement activity that swept the city in recent months.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trying
Adjective
When your spouse passes away, this can be a very trying and confusing time.
—Thomas Hager, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Jax is in the middle of his most trying experience since his rookie season.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Even without bribing the bots to provide direct advertising, brands are already trying to find ways to get into the good books of AI search results.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of businesses in Chicago, notably in immigrant neighborhoods, are still trying to recover from a downturn in sales after being hit from all sides by intense immigration enforcement activity that swept the city in recent months.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trying
Adjective
-
The basic things — paying the electric bill, going to the doctor, keeping a roof over your head — get more expensive every day, while wages stay rock-bottom and jobs get harder and harder to find.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Temperatures in many parts of Texas remained below freezing for days, compounding stress on power plants, natural gas facilities, water systems and homes built for heat, not hard freezes.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Scores of providers sprang up along a corridor stretching west from the San Gabriel Valley through the San Fernando Valley, which now has the highest concentration of hospices in the nation.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Republicans argue the region’s frustrations reflect years of structural failures under Cooper’s disaster management system, stretching back to earlier storms.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The former Everton midfielder had three midfield partners in the second half, with Ross Barkley and Lamare Bogarde filling in alongside as Emery shuffled his pack, attempting to invigorate his team.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
High schools spend a great amount of time attempting to defuse the violent actions teenagers see as a resolution to their problems.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Most importantly, Alvarado relishes in his role as a tough-nosed, point-of-attack defender, an area the Knicks have had trouble despite building a roster with notable defenders across all positions.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
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With a durable and tough rubber sole featuring Vibram's TC5+ technology, each step offers the right amount of flex and resistance for a comfortable hiking experience.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wiener is also pushing new legislation — called the No Kings Act — that would allow people in California to sue federal agents for violating their rights.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Home prices and mortgage rates have soared over the past several years, pushing home ownership out of reach for many Americans.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There are filmmakers in Hollywood now, working under the same conditions — bloody conflict abroad, corruption in politics, monolithic mainstream entertainment — and striving for a similar freedom.—
Paul Fischer,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Learning a new skill is key to staying relevant in what Jake confirmed is the rapidly evolving K-pop universe, one that is quick to react to trends and changes as the industry cranks out a steady stream of new acts, each striving to carve a unique lane to break through to global audiences.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The film, a searing exploration of the country’s flawed prison system, also stars Rivals frontman Alex Hassell and British R&B artist Ray BLK.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Nowhere perhaps was the searing heat more evident than at Melbourne Park, where the usual crowds thronging outside the Australian Open tennis tournament dwindled to a ghost town as temperatures soared.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Metellus was the choice of members of the presidential council to replace Fils-Aimé as prime minister, straining relations between the two men.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The fall of el-Fasher in October 2025 to the Rapid Support Forces set off an exodus of people to nearby towns, straining the resources of neighboring communities and driving up food insecurity rates, the report said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trying. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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