ATTEMPTED Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

attempted

verb

Definition of attempted

past tense of attempt

as in tried

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 attempted The Marshall and Hamilton campaigns and the outside groups spending big to influence the race have attempted to define the candidates for voters in vitriolic attack ads. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 In that Comedy Central show, Fielder played a would-be business consultant who attempted to help real business owners by proposing unorthodox solutions to market their services. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 CalHR unsuccessfully attempted to legally block Wednesday’s walkout through the state’s labor referee. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The San Leandro Police Department said in a press release that the suspect, identified as 38-year-old San Leandro resident Chyance Anderson, gathered merchandise from the store and attempted to leave without paying. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Other social media posts share similar issues, including one in which a speaker attempted to download 140GB of data overnight. — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026 Investigators said the deputy attempted to run away before Reaves shot him four times. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot in Union Square when a teenager allegedly attempted to rob him in 2024. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 This comes after Mayor Mark Bogen and other county commissioners attempted to enter the headquarters Monday, but say they were blocked. — Sherrilyn Cabrera, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempted

tried

Verb

Prosecutors had argued that Sierra initially tried to cover up the crimes but was ultimately linked to them through DNA evidence.

— CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
In short, Kroger tried hard and was thwarted by the regulators.

— Shubha Ghosh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of tried

Browse Nearby Words

attempt

attempted

attempting

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Attempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempted. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of attempted

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes