Word of objection in attempts to make compliments (8)
I believe the answer is:
tributes
'compliments' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'word of objection in attempts' is the wordplay.
'word of objection' becomes 'but' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'attempts' becomes 'tries' ('try' can be a synonym of 'attempt').
'but' inserted within 'tries' is 'TRIBUTES'.
'to make' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tributes that I've seen before include "Compliments paid by bitter us" , "payments of state dependency" , "Speeches in praise or thanks" , "Accolades" , "Credits" .)