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 Ness said the driver attempted to get away but was eventually arrested. Terry Collins, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025 In the face of the impasse, lawmakers, particularly Democrats, have attempted to get creative with their shutdown posturing on social media. Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025 Marty’s child had attempted to answer each of the four questions but had had the assignment returned with their mistakes circled by the teacher. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 The Irish have attempted to run Wildcat. Pete Sampson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for attempted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attempted
tried
Verb
  • Only four minutes later, Kilman tried to pass around Aaronson, but gave it straight to the attentive No 11.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In 1985, he was tried and acquitted for the murder of his first wife.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Attempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attempted. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on attempted

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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