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View synonyms for trying

trying

[ trahy-ing ]

adjective

  1. extremely annoying, difficult, or the like; straining one's patience and goodwill to the limit:

    a trying day; a trying experience.

    Synonyms: vexing, bothersome, irksome, irritating



trying

/ ˈtraɪɪŋ /

adjective

  1. upsetting, difficult, or annoying

    a trying day at the office



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Derived Forms

  • ˈtryingness, noun
  • ˈtryingly, adverb

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Other Words From

  • trying·ly adverb
  • trying·ness noun
  • un·trying adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of trying1

First recorded in 1570–80 for the sense “attempting”; 1710–20 for the current sense; try + -ing 2

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Example Sentences

Compounding that is the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion that many of us feel after such a trying period.

From Vox

It’s going to be an emotionally trying time as they shop for loved ones who cannot be in the same place with them.

Between 25 and 30, you’re trying to decide how much longer before you start growing a beard and calling yourself ‘Daddy.

Perhaps on his own nowadays, Epstein is trying his best to webmaster over a dozen URLs.

He has wild swings between trying not to care about Lana and the baby, and being completely obsessed by it.

I think if you keep trying to do things the same way it becomes diminishing returns.

All of my stories are about people trying hard not to grow up.

Mrs. Jolly Robin had often wished—when she was trying to feed a rapidly-growing family—that she could hunt forp.

Alone Orlean lay trying vainly to forget something—something that stood like a spectre before her eyes.

It may be fifty or a hundred centuries since men, although they were fully grown up, still went on trying to learn.

Such throats are trying, are they not?In case one catches cold; Ah, yes!

I shipped for a voyage to Japan and China, and spent several more years trying to penetrate the forbidden fastnesses of Tibet.

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tryhardtrying plane