TRYING Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

trying 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtrī-iŋ

Definition of trying

as in hard

difficult to endure a harrowing account of the trying conditions experienced by the climbers before they were rescued

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of try

as in stretching

to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress you're trying my patience

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in attempting

to make an effort to do try to unlock the door will try to call later tonight

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 trying

Adjective

When your spouse passes away, this can be a very trying and confusing time. — Thomas Hager, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025 Jax is in the middle of his most trying experience since his rookie season. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025

Verb

Primetime will trace the origins of Hansen’s famed series To Catch a Predator, the wildly popular program that exposed alleged pedophiles by using hidden cameras to capture adults trying to meet underage teens in online chat rooms. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026 Mostly, the cast comes across as a group of friends and co-workers trying to produce comedy together, while fully aware that winning Game Changer just means getting two seconds of celebration and a gag prize. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trying

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trying

Adjective

Michael Mankins and Matthew Crupi want value maximization back as the objective, with stakeholder commitments as hard or soft constraints.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Hrgović landed one, two, three hard right hands late in the round.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of hard

Verb

The seasonal calendar is stretching earlier, chains are competing to own the first sip of autumn, and customers are voting with their orders.

— Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
Once owned by an heir to the Getty oil fortune, a full-floor penthouse atop San Francisco’s Russian Hill with wraparound terraces and views stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to the downtown skyline is on the market for nearly $20 million.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

The market is attempting to judge how long high capital expenditures and elevated valuations surrounding AI can be sustained.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
During the arrest, Guerrero-Chavez began resisting, even slipping out of her handcuffs and attempting to run back to her vehicle, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said.

— Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of attempting

Adjective

The war, and in particular Iran’s direct targeting of the Gulf, makes this approach a tough pill to swallow.

— Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
The conversation shifted from tougher ordinances toward resource allocation and investing in third spaces, which are places outside of work, school or home.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of tough

Verb

For the first time, Fed officials described the demand generated by AI infrastructure buildouts as something that could continue to drive up prices for tech products and electricity—thereby pushing up inflation.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Canada has responded with its own retaliatory tariffs and pledged an aid package for affected companies, with Prime Minister Mark Carney commanding public support for the economic pain that will result from pushing back.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of pushing

Verb

However, instead of a conservative regression, Dressen has noticed institutions striving to adopt more innovative practices on a number of levels.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
But a home that cannot absorb something deeply meaningful is striving for taste at the expense of inauthenticity.

— Steven Weill, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of striving

Adjective

Even with no rate increase, though, Tulsa electric bills would be spiking this year because of searing summer heat, with more than twice the average number of triple-digit days.

— Scott Horsley, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
Clock hands circle predictably and calendar pages turn on schedule, but internally, within our bodies, minds and hearts, time is a whole different thing — discontinuous, wondrous, searing.

— Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of searing

Verb

Norman also has a tendency to raise fiscal concerns about some of the president’s priorities, at times straining his relationship with the president.

— Justin Papp, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
Data centers have become the largest driver of surging electricity demand that is straining US power grids.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026