attribute 1 of 2

1
as in to ascribe
to explain (something) as being the result of something else attributed the quick rescue to the well-trained police force

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to explain
to give the reason for or cause of a psychotherapist who's a little too quick to attribute every emotional problem or character defect to an unhappy childhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

attribute

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word attribute different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of attribute are ascribe, assign, credit, and impute. While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe, less definiteness than assign.

attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

When might ascribe be a better fit than attribute?

The words ascribe and attribute are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship.

forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

In what contexts can assign take the place of attribute?

While in some cases nearly identical to attribute, assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation.

assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

Where would credit be a reasonable alternative to attribute?

The words credit and attribute can be used in similar contexts, but credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation.

credited his teammates for his success

When is impute a more appropriate choice than attribute?

Although the words impute and attribute have much in common, impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame.

tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

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 attribute
Verb
The bitcoin price dip this week has been at least partially attributed to Galaxy Digital, the crypto financial services company led by billionaire Mike Novogratz, sending around 10,000 bitcoin worth $1.2 billion to exchanges, according to blockchain sleuths. Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025 The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed hazy skies and the smell of smoke across the region, attributing the conditions to smoke trapped in a sinking air mass above the Northeast. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
Noun
In the wine world, appellation refers to a geographic region where grapes are grown and to the unique attributes of that region. Matt Villano, AFAR Media, 17 July 2025 This attribute, which does not exist in many countries, is a vital characteristic of the United States. Chris Talgo, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for attribute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attribute
Verb
  • Based on those intense interactions, the temptation to ascribe God-like powers to the AI is going to be huge.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • Another trait often ascribed to footballers is courage — the kind that enables them to put their head into a frenzy of flying boots, or take a decisive penalty when thousands are willing them to fail.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • Police officials will explain how the new police drones can be remotely deployed and piloted toward the scene of an incident from docks placed across the city.
    Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 26 July 2025
  • Savory explained that the city is well-connected through trains and is a walkable destination, which certainly scores it some points over Lisbon.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • Sometimes an offense takes on the characteristics of its most distinguishable member - only the Brewers have a lower team average exit speed than the Padres, and only a handful of clubs hit more line drives, as the club mimics the tendencies of Luis Arraez.
    Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • Felix Brill, chief investment officer at VP Bank, agrees that the SGD has many characteristics of a modern safe haven, including macroeconomic stability, strong institutions, a large current account surplus, and low political risk.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • The 31-year-old, who credited Farke with saving his career after last season’s title triumph at Plymouth Argyle, will relish beating his younger peers in training through the campaign.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 28 July 2025
  • Pro Football Focus credits him with just two passes of over 20 air yards, with one of them being the touchdown to Singleton.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • However, the Commission did not indicate any sudden or unexpected event that would justify the urgency.
    Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • Lay of the land Advocates for the Golden Dome point to recent events to justify the program.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • That’s why flexibility is the most important feature of any estate plan built today.
    Luke Britt, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • But psychiatrists struggled to pinpoint a single feature that unified the diagnosis.
    Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • Her signature ultra-thin, arched eyebrows, a style trait belonging to her renowned ’90s aesthetic, were kept intact, while her lips glowed as if they’d been coated in a thin layer of chapstick.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 July 2025
  • Along those same lines, calling specific traits of genes good, could also cause people to look at other people who don’t have those genes in a lesser light.
    Sonia Thompson, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • Performance marketing channels promised clean attribution and quick results, which shifted marketing's center of gravity from strategic brand-building to measurable, trackable execution.
    Cody Gillund, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • To some, that might appear like an excessively harsh attribution and perhaps a misuse of the term.
    Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 15 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Attribute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attribute. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.

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