essay 1 of 2

noun

ˈe-ˌsā How to pronounce essay (audio)
Definition of essaynext
1
as in article
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view school essays on what it means to be a patriot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something my first essay at baking a cake did not go well

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in test
a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty a little homemade essay to determine the easiest way to strip the paint from the bookcase

Synonyms & Similar Words

essay

2 of 2

verb

e-ˈsā How to pronounce essay (audio)
as in to attempt
to make an effort to do he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb essay differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of essay are attempt, endeavor, strive, and try. While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

When might attempt be a better fit than essay?

While the synonyms attempt and essay are close in meaning, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to essay?

Although the words endeavor and essay have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

When is strive a more appropriate choice than essay?

While in some cases nearly identical to essay, 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 essay?

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 essay
Noun
Children offload all the hard work onto AI – for example, writing an essay, which requires considerable effort. — Dmytro Korchevskyi, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 That gallery show is now further documented in the form of a new monograph, featuring essays from various writers, critics and curators exploring the work of artists including Kennedy Yanko, Maia Ruth Lee, Uman and more. — Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Levinthal has contributed paintings for a few of our reviews, most recently a Michael Kazin essay about American history in June last year. — Leanne Shapton, The New York Review of Books, 18 Mar. 2026 In an as-told-to essay for the Wall Street Journal, the H Is for Hawk actress spoke about her love of historical dramas and homes. — Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for essay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essay
  1. article
  2. attempt
  3. test
  4. try
  5. experiment
  6. strive
Noun
  • Information for this article was contributed by staff writers of The Associated Press.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The article cites regional rainfall trends and researchers who explain how warmer, wetter conditions can contribute to mold.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of article
Noun
  • Well, on Monday, Overshown put those doubts to rest by tying for the team lead with six tackles and recording a game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter to thwart a Philadelphia comeback attempt.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Butker made his next attempt — a 50-yard field goal to cut the Seahawks’ lead to 13-3 late in the third quarter — before missing from 45 yards midway through the fourth.
    — Pete Sweeney October 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of attempt
Noun
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing one of the most significant electoral tests of his decades-long political career after three years of war, crisis and global outcry over the country's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
    — Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In a test involving the recognition of symbols, Cortical reports that linking up seven biological computers increased accuracy in results from around 80% to 99%.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of test
Verb
  • Others are trying to drive employees toward what are called Centers of Excellence—essentially hospitals or medical practices with high ratings that may save money in the long-term since employees won’t need to return again and again for care.
    — Alana Semuels, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Iran continued its campaign of striking ships trying to use the Strait of Hormuz, with four drones in the last 24 hours.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of try
Noun
  • New York — Down a dim, crooked hallway inside the Jay Street Lofts, a hulking brick relic of Brooklyn’s industrial past, Naomi Mishkin is conducting a radical fashion experiment.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • There might even come a time on Saturday when the Wolverines have to give Underwood the ball back, if the Carr experiment doesn’t come to fruition as the coaching staff is hoping.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of experiment
Verb
  • Kansas has emerged as an unlikely battleground in a turbulent midterm election year for Republicans, who are striving to hold onto slim majorities in both chambers of Congress.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Eager to carry on the family legacy, Charlie strives to become a Baywatch lifeguard alongside her dad.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of strive

Browse Nearby Words

esquires
essay
essayed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on essay

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essay

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

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
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All