ASSAYS Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

assays 1 of 2

noun

plural of assay

as in analyses

the separation and identification of the parts of a whole a metallurgist did an assay on the metal and determined it contained nickel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in attempts

archaic an effort to do or accomplish something the poem about a frustrated man's last assay at greatness

Synonyms & Similar Words

assays

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of assay

as in analyzes

to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships the company assayed a sample of the rock to see if it contained gold in quantities worth mining

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in tries

to make an effort to do assaying the task of writing his autobiography

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 assays

Noun

One study evaluated the anticancer potential of citrus peels on in vitro (test tube) assays and in vivo (living organism) cancer models. — Kathi Valeii, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2026 The GeneXpert assays routinely used during Ebola responses were developed primarily to detect Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), the species responsible for the devastating West African epidemic of 2014-2016 and most subsequent Ebola outbreaks. — Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 1 July 2026 To work around these limitations, epidemiologists in the field have turned to broader-spectrum diagnostic kits and alternative rapid assays, though shortages of testing supplies and the logistical difficulties of operating in remote outbreak regions continue to hamper response efforts. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May 2026 So, as long as your tests involve one of the assays that Finch can handle, then there’s an additional step that can be performed by the system. — ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026 Having completed space vacuum and temperature tests, the observatory only has a few assays left. — Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026 Common testing methods include reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, viral culture and immunofluorescence assays. — Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026 But while most of that capital flows into drug discovery, the white space is in clinical infrastructure—where predictive assays can shift spend from catastrophic claims to actuarial foresight. — Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 Also, many tests—or SARS-CoV-2 assays—are difficult to perform in large numbers. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 July 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assays

Noun

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, or OIRA, doesn’t require that agencies perform cost-benefit analyses of regulations imposed on individuals.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
The study combined technological, petrographic, and geochemical analyses of pottery fragments recovered from a kiln at Qurayyah.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of analyses

Noun

Utilizing quick, short passes, Hayes completed 14 of his first 16 attempts, including a 26-yard touchdown strike to sophomore tight end Ian Figi that gave Naperville Central a 14-0 lead.

— Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
McIntire is going batty — in a good way — over attempts to investigate the elusive western mastiff.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of attempts

Verb

The family tries to turn their surroundings into learning opportunities as well.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026
There’s been a big emphasis on pressing as a unit and moving the ball quickly as Iraola tries to install the kind of bold, attacking football which put him at the front of the queue when Liverpool looked for Slot’s successor.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of tries

Noun

The deadly flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday was likely caused by a huge chunk of a glacier that broke off and temporarily dammed a river, according to preliminary investigations by scientists.

— Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
One of the defining conflicts of his early presidency was with Attorney General Porras, whose Public Ministry had pursued investigations against Semilla before and after the 2023 election.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of investigations

Verb

Filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain crafts a taut supernatural drama that dissects the patriarchy hiding beneath the veneer of a fairytale wedding.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
This German production, predominantly shot in Ukraine, carefully dissects how a gender transition and Russia’s invasion converge on the love between Olya (Tania Myronyshena) and Oleh (Markus Bright).

— Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of dissects

Browse Nearby Words

assaying

assays

assemblage

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Assays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assays. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of assays

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kith

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes