sought

verb

Definition of soughtnext
past tense of seek
1
as in pursued
to go in search of Henry Hudson was set adrift by mutinous crewmen while seeking the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in requested
to make a request for came seeking financial advice

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tried
to make an effort to do seek to find the best solution

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sought Later in the afternoon, Brian finally sought treatment and received stitches at the hospital. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 At the final whistle, Mbappe clenched his fists and appeared to look the other way as Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill sought a handshake. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026 More than a decade ago, her association sought the same change at the federal level and was unsuccessful — opposed at the time by Wine Institute. — Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026 Local governments have opened emergency shelters, which have been nearing capacity, as residents in low-lying areas and those living in wood and tin homes have especially sought refuge. — Kristin Wright, NPR, 5 July 2026 Across the East Coast, fireworks, tall ships and World Cup watch parties pressed on in sweltering conditions, as crowds sought shade in museums, metro stations and historic sites. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 They were welcomed back in 2009, however, when Pope Benedict XVI sought unification by lifting the judgment. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026 Testing centers closed, access became uneven, and colleges understandably sought leniency during an unparalleled disruption. — Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 His widow, Erika Kirk, who took the helm of the organization after his death, pushed to maintain public access to Robinson’s prosecution when defense attorneys sought to exclude cameras from the courtroom. — ABC News, 5 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sought
  1. pursued
  2. requested
  3. tried
  4. attempted
Verb
  • On a previous voyage, the captain—who is in his late fifties, with a young wife and child—pursued the gigantic, unnaturally white sperm whale known to mariners as Moby Dick.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • Automakers have long pursued dry-electrode manufacturing as a solution for batteries.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Definition of pursued
Verb
  • Also requested were documents related to a lawsuit, recently settled for $135,000, claiming Kramer had given an improper assessment of a property and retaliated against an employee who complained.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Jurado said the company did not provide concrete public commitments, funding amounts or implementation timelines for the relief and recovery measures requested.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 6 July 2026
Definition of requested
Verb
  • Days later, Kelce tried and failed to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it at her Kansas City show, the first domino to fall in the couple’s fabled romance.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 2 July 2026
  • Commissioner Lyle tried to delay the vote, but Commission President Dillon shot it down, saying the City-County Council was waiting on the proposal to be sent their way.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
Definition of tried
Verb
  • According to authorities, store staff had been warned that the same suspects had allegedly attempted a similar scheme at a Costco location in Enfield, roughly a 30-minute drive north.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • The sheriff's office says that deputies and workers extricated the man and attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of attempted

Browse Nearby Words

soughs
sought
sought (out)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sought. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sought

Nglish: Translation of sought for Spanish Speakers

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