1
as in ascribing
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 explaining
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
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Recent Examples of attributing
Some Republicans, including Senator Tim Scott, called for the post to be removed, though the White House’s initial framing treated the matter as a misunderstanding rather than intentional misconduct, later attributing it to a mistake by a staffer after initially defending it as a meme.
—
Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Public and private market investors have indiscriminately been attributing huge premiums to AI companies, and the party continues — the music is still playing and people are still dancing.
—Mikael Johnsson, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Net income fell 27 percent though, to $175 million from $241 million last year, with the company attributing the drop in exchange rates on debt and loans.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026
This is the smallest decline in three years, with IATA attributing it to a more normal supply-demand balance as stronger yields of the Covid-19 pandemic and fallout continue to taper.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
Lord of the Rings franchise director Peter Jackson joined the billionaires club in November 2021, with Forbes attributing his financial status to selling a stake in his company, Weta Digital, for $975 million.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Substance abuse experts caution against attributing too much to any single trend, particularly when there’s limited data on the long-term effects.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
Substance abuse experts caution against attributing too much to any single trend, particularly when there's limited data on the long-term effects.
—Karen Martin, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026
Substance abuse experts caution against attributing too much to any single trend, particularly when there’s limited data on the long-term effects.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Public and private market investors have indiscriminately been attributing huge premiums to AI companies, and the party continues — the music is still playing and people are still dancing.
—Mikael Johnsson, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Net income fell 27 percent though, to $175 million from $241 million last year, with the company attributing the drop in exchange rates on debt and loans.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026
This is the smallest decline in three years, with IATA attributing it to a more normal supply-demand balance as stronger yields of the Covid-19 pandemic and fallout continue to taper.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
Lord of the Rings franchise director Peter Jackson joined the billionaires club in November 2021, with Forbes attributing his financial status to selling a stake in his company, Weta Digital, for $975 million.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Substance abuse experts caution against attributing too much to any single trend, particularly when there’s limited data on the long-term effects.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
Substance abuse experts caution against attributing too much to any single trend, particularly when there's limited data on the long-term effects.
—Karen Martin, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026
Substance abuse experts caution against attributing too much to any single trend, particularly when there’s limited data on the long-term effects.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attributing
Verb
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The actress is cautious in ascribing too much power to her position.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
15 Dec. 2025
-
Describing African resistance to slavery as a form of fugitive politics enables us, moreover, to confront accounts that, while acknowledging the reality of the resistance of the enslaved, end up depoliticizing it by ascribing it primarily to private emotions such as fear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Perardi emailed a photo explaining that it had been given to him as collateral.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
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Several board members cited the legal outcome in explaining their votes against Ben Gamla.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ivy Queen Reggaeton icon and pioneer Ivy Queen has performed with Bad Bunny on multiple occasions, with the rapper crediting the Queen of Reggaeton as a major inspiration.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement who has also seen his authority diminish under Noem, was there too, crediting her and the president.—
Nick Miroff,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Justice Department has not yet released a formal explanation justifying its redaction decisions.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
-
And yet, major Jewish legacy organizations continue to insist that support for Israel requires denying the realities of occupation, justifying violence against Palestinians and rejecting Palestinian self-determination even while affirming the same for Jews.—
Rabbi Jill Jacobs,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attributing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attributing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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