synonym for essay work

Synonyms of essay

• as in article
• as in attempt
• as in to attempt
• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Thesaurus Definition of essay

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dissertation
• composition
• prolegomenon
• undertaking
• trial and error
• experimentation

Thesaurus Definition of essay  (Entry 2 of 2)

• have a go at
• try one's hand (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb essay differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of essay are attempt , endeavor , strive , and try . While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

When might attempt be a better fit than essay ?

While the synonyms attempt and essay are close in meaning, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to essay ?

Although the words endeavor and essay have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

When is strive a more appropriate choice than essay ?

While in some cases nearly identical to essay , strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

How do try and attempt relate to one another, in the sense of essay ?

Try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

Examples Sentences

• Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant , 28 Nov. 2024
• Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News , 28 Nov. 2024
• Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News , 29 Nov. 2024
• Yaakov Katz, Newsweek , 29 Nov. 2024
• Yaakov Katz, Newsweek , 28 Nov. 2024
• Hamilton Mann, Forbes , 28 Nov. 2024
• Pete Sampson, The Athletic , 1 Dec. 2024
• Grant Lancaster, arkansasonline.com , 30 Nov. 2024
• Andrey Sergeenkov, Forbes , 3 Dec. 2024
• Alice Gregory, The New Yorker , 2 Dec. 2024
• Mark Travers, Forbes , 28 Nov. 2024
• Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN , 26 Nov. 2024

Articles Related to essay

To 'Essay' or 'Assay'?

You'll know the difference if you give it the old college essay

Thesaurus Entries Near essay

Cite this entry.

“Essay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essay. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on essay

Nglish: Translation of essay for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of essay for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essay

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

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day, misbegotten.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), plural and possessive names: a guide, the difference between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.', why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word, what's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism', popular in wordplay, terroir, oenophile, & magnum: ten words about wine, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), 9 superb owl words, 15 words that used to mean something different, games & quizzes.

Related Words and Phrases

Bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250].

What is another word for essay ?

Synonyms for Essay:

• investigate
• literary work
• short stories
• short story
• verbalization
• examination
• interpolation
• postulation
• re solutions
• re-solution
• re-solutions
• performance
• follow throughs
• pet projects
• pro position
• pro positions
• pro-positions
• Research and Development
• de lineation
• de lineations
• de-lineation
• de-lineations
• enucleations
• ex planation
• ex planations
• ex plication
• ex plications
• ex position
• ex positions
• ex pounding
• ex-planations
• ex-plication
• ex-plications
• ex-position
• ex-positions
• ex-pounding
• expoundings
• belles lettre
• belles-lettre
• belleslettre
• belleslettres
• in formations
• in-formation
• in-formations
• auto biographies
• auto biography
• auto-biographies
• auto-biography
• re collection
• re collections
• re-collection
• re-collections
• trans actions
• trans-actions
• propoundment
• consideration
• presumption
• set one sights on
• set ones sights on
• set sights on
• sets one sights on
• sets one's sights on
• sets ones sights on
• sets sights on
• setting one sights on
• setting one's sights on
• setting ones sights on
• setting sights on
• zeroed in on
• zeroes in on
• zeroing in on
• did level best
• didst level best
• does level best
• doest level best
• doeth level best
• doing level best
• dost level best
• doth level best
• exerted oneself
• exerting oneself
• exerts oneself
• gave a fling
• gave a whirl
• gave best shot
• gave it a go
• gave it a try
• gave it try
• gave old college try
• give it try
• gives a fling
• gives a try
• gives a whirl
• gives best shot
• gives fling
• gives it a go
• gives it a try
• gives it go
• gives it try
• gives old college try
• gives whirl
• giving a fling
• giving a try
• giving a whirl
• giving best shot
• giving fling
• giving it a go
• giving it a try
• giving it go
• giving it try
• giving old college try
• giving whirl
• goes the limit
• going limit
• going the limit
• had a crack
• had a go at
• haddest a crack
• haddest a go at
• haddest crack
• haddest go at
• hadst a crack
• hadst a go at
• hadst crack
• hadst go at
• has a crack
• has a go at
• hast a crack
• hast a go at
• hath a crack
• hath a go at
• having a crack
• having a go at
• having crack
• having go at
• made a run at
• made run at
• make run at
• makes a run at
• makes run at
• making a run at
• making run at
• shoot works
• shooting the works
• shooting works
• shoots the works
• shoots works
• shot the works
• take stab at
• takes a stab at
• takes best shot
• takes stab at
• taking a stab at
• taking best shot
• taking stab at
• took a stab at
• took best shot
• took stab at
• tried hand at
• tried one hand at
• tried one's hand at
• tried ones hand at
• tries hand at
• tries one hand at
• tries one's hand at
• tries ones hand at
• try one hand at
• try ones hand at
• trying hand at
• trying one hand at
• trying one's hand at
• trying ones hand at
• under taken
• under takes
• under-taken
• under-takes
• went the limit
• am the running
• are in running
• are in the running
• are running
• are the running
• art in running
• art in the running
• art running
• art the running
• be in running
• be the running
• being in running
• being in the running
• being running
• being the running
• go for gold
• goes for broke
• goes for gold
• goes for the gold
• going for gold
• going for the gold
• inned the hunt
• inning hunt
• inning the hunt
• ins the hunt
• is in running
• is in the running
• is the running
• jockeyed for position
• jockeying for position
• jockeys for position
• matched strength
• matched wits
• matches strength
• matches wits
• matching strength
• matching wits
• participates in
• participating in
• pits against
• pits oneself against
• pitted against
• pitted oneself against
• pitting against
• pitting oneself against
• running for
• scrambled for
• scrambles for
• scrambling for
• seeking prize
• seeks prize
• sought prize
• was in running
• was in the running
• was the running
• wast in running
• wast in the running
• wast running
• wast the running
• went for broke
• went for gold
• went for the gold
• were in running
• were in the running
• were running
• were the running
• wert in running
• wert in the running
• wert running
• wert the running
• bidding for
• did one best
• did one's best
• did ones best
• didst one best
• didst one's best
• didst ones best
• do one best
• do ones best
• does one best
• does one's best
• does ones best
• doest one best
• doest one's best
• doest ones best
• doeth one best
• doeth one's best
• doeth ones best
• doing one best
• doing one's best
• doing ones best
• dost one best
• dost one's best
• dost ones best
• doth one best
• doth one's best
• doth ones best
• had a shot at
• had a swing at
• had shot at
• had swing at
• haddest a shot at
• haddest a swing at
• haddest shot at
• haddest swing at
• hadst a shot at
• hadst a swing at
• hadst shot at
• hadst swing at
• hammering away
• has a shot at
• has a swing at
• has shot at
• has swing at
• hast a shot at
• hast a swing at
• hast shot at
• hast swing at
• hath a shot at
• hath a swing at
• hath shot at
• hath swing at
• have shot at
• have swing at
• having a shot at
• having a swing at
• having shot at
• having swing at
• made an effort
• made effort
• makes an effort
• makes effort
• making an effort
• making effort
• pegged away
• pegging away
• poured it on
• pouring it on
• pours it on
• takes pains
• taking pains
• am determined
• am resolved
• are determined
• are resolved
• art determined
• art resolved
• being determined
• being resolved
• ex pressing
• ex-pressing
• figuring on
• had in mind
• haddest in mind
• haddest mind
• hadst in mind
• hast in mind
• hath in mind
• having in mind
• having mind
• is determined
• is resolved
• looked forward
• looks forward
• was determined
• was resolved
• wast determined
• wast resolved
• were determined
• were resolved
• wert determined
• wert resolved

Other synonyms:

• exercise book
• reading list
• report card
• show and tell
• all-nighter
• interpretation
• composition

Other relevant words:

• advertisement
• arrangement
• be in the running
• bear witness
• bend over backward
• break one's neck
• chip away at
• chipped away at
• coping with
• correspondence
• demonstrate
• determination
• do level best
• do one's utmost
• draughtsman
• engrossment
• exert oneself
• experimental
• give a fling
• give a whirl
• give best shot
• give it a go
• give it a try
• give old college try
• giving a go
• go for broke
• go for jugular
• go for the gold
• go for the jugular
• go the limit
• going after
• going all out
• going for broke
• have a crack
• have a go at
• have a shot
• have a stab
• have a whack
• in terms of
• in the hunt
• jockey for position
• knock oneself out
• leave no stone unturned
• lift a finger
• make a pass at
• make a run at
• make an attempt
• make every effort
• match strength
• participate in
• participated in
• pit against
• pit oneself against
• put oneself out
• scramble for
• set one's sights on
• shoot the works
• take a stab at
• take best shot
• taking part
• try hand at
• try one's hand at
• was running
• Prolegomenon
• bring to the test
• computer printout
• crucial test
• disquisition
• explication
• feeling out
• final draft
• first draft
• give a shot
• give a tryout
• investigation
• lucubration
• make a stab at
• make trial of
• non-fiction
• observational
• one's all
• one's level best
• opportunity
• piece of writing
• play around with
• preliminary study
• printed matter
• publication
• put on trial
• put to the proof
• put to the test
• question closely
• reading matter
• research paper
• rough draft
• rough sketch
• sounding out
• substantiate
• take a crack at
• take a whack at
• tempt fortune
• transcription
• trial and error
• try one's hand
• try one's luck
• verification
• written work
• Endeavoring
• do one's best
• have a shot at
• have a swing at
• make an effort
• make effort
• aspiring to
• be determined
• be resolved
• has in mind
• have in mind
• look forward
• looking forward
• setting apart
• setting aside
• apply oneself
• bang away at
• devote oneself to
• embark upon
• embarked upon
• squared off
• squaring off
• start ball rolling
• start the ball rolling
• take a shot at
• take in hand
• try for size
• try on for size
• turn one's hand to
• go out on a limb
• go out on limb
• have a fling at
• laying open
• play the market
• put in jeopardy
• stick neck out
• stick one's neck out
• sticking one's neck out
• take a flyer
• take a plunge
• all one's got
• belles lettres
• belles-lettres
• book review
• dissertation
• enterprises
• enucleation
• in formation
• literary genre
• literary works
• monographies
• one's best
• pet project
• substantiation
• undertaking
• what one is into
• work of art
• written material
• written works
• pass judgment

What are the paraphrases for Essay?

Paraphrases are highlighted according to their relevancy:, independent.

• Noun, singular or mass editorial , literature , wording , Formulae .

Other Related

• Proper noun, singular experiments .
• Noun, singular or mass discourse , drafting , paper , presentation , rehearsal , statement , thesis , writing .

What are the hypernyms for Essay?

Hypernyms for essay (as nouns).

• communication disquisition , theme , paper , Thanatopsis , composition , memoir , report .

What are the hyponyms for Essay?

Hyponyms for essay (as nouns).

• act effort , try , endeavour , endeavor , attempt .
• communication writing , written material , piece of writing .

What are the opposite words for essay ?

Essay can be defined as a short piece of writing that expresses opinions or ideas on a particular topic. However, not all forms of written communication follow this format, which means that there are several antonyms for the word essay. Some antonyms include oration, debate, speech, and dialogue. Unlike an essay, an oration is a formal speech given to an audience. Whereas a debate is an argumentative discussion where two or more sides present their ideas on a topic. Additionally, a speech is a formal address given to an audience, while dialogue involves a conversation between two or more individuals. Each of these antonyms offers a distinct way of expressing an idea or opinion, making them useful alternatives to the traditional essay format.

What are the antonyms for Essay?

• entertainment

Usage examples for Essay

Famous quotes with essay.

• I was uncomfortable writing fiction. My love was the personal essay , rather than the novel. Alain de Botton
• Why, in such a case, should the performer essay any sort of considered approach at all? Brian Ferneyhough
• I'm most suspicious of scripts that have a lot of stage direction at the top of the page... sunrise over the desert and masses of... a whole essay before you get to the dialogue. Anthony Hopkins
• I'm trying to put more elements of the essay into my writing. Ryszard Kapuscinski
• A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay , or painting a picture, or doing embroidery. Mao Zedong

Related words & questions

Related words: essay writing, custom essay, best essay, university essay, essay help, essay writing service, what is an essay, good essay

Word of the Day

Nearby words.

• ESSAY synonyms at Thesaurus.com
• ESSAY synonyms and antonyms - Merriam-Webster dictionary
• Powerthesaurus.org - ESSAY synonyms
• Collins Dictionary - synonyms of ESSAY
• YourDictionary - another words for ESSAY

Infographic

Share this Image

Add the infographic to your website:.

• TheFreeDictionary
• Word / Article
• Starts with
• Free toolbar & extensions
• Word of the Day
• Free content

Synonyms for essay

• composition
• dissertation
• disquisition
• undertaking
• have a go at
• have a shot at
• have a crack at
• have a bash at

a relatively brief discourse written especially as an exercise

A procedure that ascertains effectiveness, value, proper function, or other quality, a trying to do or make something, to make an attempt to do or make, to subject to a procedure that ascertains effectiveness, value, proper function, or other quality, an analytic or interpretive literary composition, related words.

• piece of writing
• written material
• thanatopsis

a tentative attempt

Make an effort or attempt.

• pick up the gauntlet
• take a dare
• give it a try
• give it a whirl
• take a chance
• take chances
• lay on the line
• put on the line

put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to

• pass judgment
• Esperantido
• espionage agent
• espionage network
• espresso maker
• espresso shop
• esprit de corps
• esprit de l'escalier
• essential amino acid
• essential condition
• essential hypertension
• essential oil
• essential thrombocytopenia
• essential tremor
• essentiality
• essentially
• essentialness
• established
• established church
• establishment
• establishmentarian
• establishmentarianism
• Essai Fondé sur la Préférence du Patient
• Essais Cliniques en Lorraine
• Essais Cliniques et Validation
• Essais d'Aptitude Par Inter-Comparaison
• Essais Périodiques
• Essanay Film Manufacturing Company
• Essar Power Gujarat Ltd.
• Essar Shipping and Logistics Ltd.
• Essarts Club Archerie
• Essay and Short Answer Question
• Essay Concerning Human Understanding
• Essay editing
• Essay on Criticism
• Essay on Lucidity
• essay question
• Essay Verification Engine
• Essay Writing Contest
• Essay Writing for the College Bound
• Essays in International Finance
• Essays on Philosophical Method
• Facebook Share

Synonyms of 'essay' in British English

Additional synonyms, synonyms of 'essay' in american english.

It seems that your browser is blocking this video content.

To access it, add this site to the exceptions or modify your security settings, then refresh this page.

Browse alphabetically essay

• esprit de corps
• All ENGLISH synonyms that begin with 'E'

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

• Access the entire site, including the Easy Learning Grammar , and our language quizzes.
• Customize your language settings. (Unregistered users can only access the International English interface for some pages.)
• Submit new words and phrases to the dictionary.
• Benefit from an increased character limit in our Translator tool.
• Receive our weekly newsletter with the latest news, exclusive content, and offers.
• Be the first to enjoy new tools and features.
• It is easy and completely free !

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Synonyms and antonyms of essay in English

Word of the Day

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

relating to a very formal social occasion where men wear a black bow tie, or to the clothes worn for this occasion

In real life or the virtual world: ways of being present

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists

To add ${headword} to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

We use cookies to provide our clients with the best possible experience. If You continue to use this site, you agree with our cookie policy. Read more »

• Academic Guidance
• Essay Examples
• Essay Topics
• How To Write
• Other Articles
• Research and Sources
• Synonym Explorations
• Writing Tips

Synonyms for “Essay”

The term “Essay” is deeply rooted in the literary and academic arena, often denoting a short piece of writing on a particular subject. Originating from the French word ‘essayer’, meaning ‘to try’ or ‘to attempt’, an essay is an endeavor to express thoughts, arguments, or narratives in a structured manner. Over time, it has evolved into a popular form of writing, with several synonymous terms and types.

General Synonyms for “Essay”

Beyond academic precincts, the word essay resonates with various undertones depending on the context:

• Composition

Synonyms for “Essay” in Academic Writing

In academia, essays are a staple, reflecting deep introspection, research, or exploration:

• Dissertation

Detailed Synonyms: Definitions and Examples

Delving deeper, let’s explore these synonyms, accentuated with definitions and illustrative examples:

“The essay is a literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything.” – Aldous Huxley

The “Essay”, with its myriad forms and connotations, remains a primary medium for individuals to articulate, elucidate, and convey their thoughts. Ranging from personal narratives to critical analyses, essays facilitate the seamless flow of ideas, fostering deeper understanding and appreciation of myriad subjects.

• Place an order
• About Writology
• How it Works
• Buy Custom Essays
• Nursing Writing Services
• Do My Assignment
• Buy a Letter of Recommendation
• Buy Research Papers