ESSAYED Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

essayed

verb

past tense of essay

as in tried

to make an effort to do he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move

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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 essayed Larger collaboration, now being essayed by film industries as established as France and the Nordic States, is the bigger major way Africa’s film industries can also go. — John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 After netting a Golden Globe nomination for her film debut in 1978's Corvette Summer, Annie Potts joined the cast of Ghostbusters, played the ultimate Cool Girl record store clerk in Pretty in Pink (1986), and essayed her most iconic role as barbed single-mother Mary Jo Shively on Designing Women. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026 During the last 45 years or so, additional sketches for the finale have surfaced, and a number of musicologists and composers have essayed completions of the movement. — Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026 In the process, Tarr essayed an arresting tone poem about spiritual isolation that enraptured viewers. — Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for essayed

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

Verb

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

Definition of attempted

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“Essayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essayed. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of essayed

verb

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