Choose an effort synonym by asking what kind of effort you mean: energy spent (hard work, exertion), a single try (attempt, endeavor), a group push (campaign, drive) or a quality in a person (dedication, diligence).
Effort also has a plural, efforts, that often means a set of actions toward one aim, as in relief efforts. Read on for each meaning with swaps, the strength scale and phrases that replace the word entirely.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
attempt, hard work, endeavor, dedicationPart of speech
Noun (countable and uncountable)Most formal
endeavor, exertion, undertakingMost casual
go, shot, elbow greaseStrongest
struggle, toilAntonyms
ease, idleness, inactionWatch out
Struggle implies difficulty or failure risk. Do not use it to praise smooth progress.Word forms covered
efforts, effortful, effortless
Effort synonym table with sample lines
| Sense | Swap in | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Energy spent | hard work, exertion, labor | Rebuilding the shed was hours of labor. |
| A single try | attempt, bid, shot | Her bid to break the record fell short. |
| Group project | campaign, drive, initiative | The recycling drive raised awareness. |
| A personal quality | dedication, diligence | His diligence showed on every page. |
| Strain | struggle, pains | She took great pains over the speech. |
Light try to heavy struggle
Five chips, five levels of strain. A try is quick and low-stakes. An attempt is a planned try that may fail. Hard work stresses time and energy. Exertion leans physical: heavy breathing after a climb. A struggle means the work fights back.
Endeavor sits apart from the scale. It is a formal word for a serious attempt or venture, at home in grant applications and speeches.
Efforts synonym list for campaigns and teams
The plural often names joint work:
- initiatives or programs: wellness initiatives at work
- campaigns or drives: fundraising campaigns
- work or contributions: thanks for your contributions
- actions or measures: actions to cut emissions
- attempts: repeated attempts to reach the caller
Relief efforts becomes relief work or relief operations; your efforts becomes your hard work or your contribution.
Before and after
- Thanks for your effort becomes thanks for your hard work.
- It was a good effort becomes it was a strong attempt.
- A team effort becomes a joint push or a collective endeavor.
- Put effort into the essay becomes put care into the essay.
- Her efforts to learn French becomes her attempts to learn French.
- Lifting the box took effort becomes lifting the box took real exertion.
A teacher writes on a report card: "Sam puts in effort." Swapping in a quality word says more: "Sam shows real diligence and finishes every task." Diligence names a steady habit rather than a single burst.
Phrases that replace effort completely
Sometimes a phrase sounds better than any single noun. Try go the extra mile, give it your all, do your best, roll up your sleeves, take pains or make a point of. "She made an effort to call" becomes "she made a point of calling." For more verbs of trying, see strive synonyms.
Effortless, effortful and the near misses
Effortless means easy, smooth or graceful. Effortful is rare and means requiring work. Watch the near misses: energy is the fuel, not the act; progress is the result, not the work; stress is a feeling, not a try. On a resume, prefer dedication or commitment to effort, and show the outcome.
The reverse of effort
Ease is the neutral antonym: she won with ease. Idleness, laziness and inaction describe a lack of effort, the first two with blame. Neglect means failing to give care that was owed.
- The lawn showed months of neglect.
- Inaction on the leak made the damage worse.
Related noun pages include determination synonyms; job application vocabulary fills resume and work words.
Frequently asked questions
Does effort have a formal equivalent?
Several. Endeavor, exertion and undertaking are formal. Endeavor fits a serious attempt, while exertion fits physical work.
How else can I thank someone for their efforts?
Try thank you for your hard work, thank you for your dedication or thank you for all you put into this. Naming one specific task makes it warmer.
Is attempt the same as effort?
Close but not identical. An attempt is one try at a goal, while effort can also mean the energy you put into it.
Which effort synonym suits a team project?
Collective endeavor, joint push and team drive all work. Initiative suits a planned project at a company or school.
What is the opposite of effort?
Ease is the most neutral antonym. Idleness and inaction describe not trying at all.