Making an effort is an important aspect of achieving success in life. However, sometimes repeating the same phrase over and over again can become tedious and mundane. Therefore, it is crucial to have a wide range of synonyms up one's sleeve to express the same idea in different ways. Some of the synonyms for making an effort include striving, endeavoring, exerting, working hard, applying oneself, laboring, struggling, toiling. On the other hand, if you want to sound more formal, you can use the phrase "putting forth the effort." By having a handful of synonyms, one can make their writing or speech more varied and captivating.