ASSIGN Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'assign' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of assign are ascribe , attribute , credit , and impute . While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation. // assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

Q: In what contexts can 'ascribe' take the place of 'assign'?

The synonyms ascribe and assign are sometimes interchangeable, but ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship. // forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

Q: How is 'attribute' related to other words for 'assign'?

Attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe , less definiteness than assign . // attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

Q: Where would 'credit' be a reasonable alternative to 'assign'?

In some situations, the words credit and assign are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'impute' instead of 'assign'?

While in some cases nearly identical to assign , impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame. // tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

assign

verb

ə-ˈsīn

Definition of assign

as in to task

to give a task, duty, or responsibility to assigned the class with the task of finding something in the state constitution they felt needed changing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to allot

to give as a share or portion each new employee is assigned a cubicle and a computer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cede

to give over the legal possession or ownership of assigned all rights to and royalties from the song to the Boy Scouts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

expropriate

as in to appoint

to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty the mayor assigned the panel with the task of luring a major sports franchise to the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of assign are ascribe, attribute, credit, and impute. While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation.

assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

In what contexts can ascribe take the place of assign?

The synonyms ascribe and assign are sometimes interchangeable, but ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship.

forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

How is attribute related to other words for assign?

Attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe, less definiteness than assign.

attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

Where would credit be a reasonable alternative to assign?

In some situations, the words credit and assign are roughly equivalent. However, 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 it sensible to use impute instead of assign?

While in some cases nearly identical to assign, 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 assign At the time of his arrest, McQuay supervised about 15 officers assigned to a patrol unit in Fresno’s northeast policing district. — Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Agents can be assigned to different responsibilities based on their background and areas of expertise. — Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026 Although online court records list Michael Morrison as a public defender in the case, a representative of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office told PEOPLE that an individual attorney had not yet been assigned. — Esther Lian, PEOPLE, 16 Oct. 2026 Michigan State Police have been assigned to the investigation. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assign

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assign

Verb

Her only son was at her bedside alone, tasked with the decision to donate her organs.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
To addressed these limitations, Anthropic tasked an internal Claude research model with designing minibinders, small proteins engineered to attach to specific targets.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of task

Verb

The Democrats were ceding ground on immigration and deeply divided on Israel’s war in Gaza.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
But, for now, the race that will be watched is whether California may cede its status as the top location for Hollywood projects.

— Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of cede

Verb

He was appointed by Commissioner Richard Lara to serve on the city’s charter review committee and recently resigned from the city’s planning and zoning board to run for office.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Rooms Standard rooms are classic in look and feel with dark wood furniture and neutral fabrics, yet appointed with modern embellishments such as universal outlets and bedside light controls.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of appoint

Verb

In an increasingly complicated world, those entrusted with power seem less able—or willing—than ever to take on the threats that loom.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
For a lot of the people at that desk, this is the first job anyone has entrusted them with.

— Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of entrust

Verb

There are obviously endless options for how the money could be allocated.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
For some young investors, that means money originally allocated to long-term strategies is being funneled to activities built around immediate outcomes.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of allocate

Verb

Those tankers transfer oil to other tankers waiting in the Gulf of Oman for shipment to customers in Asia.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
A lot of uncertainty remains in the lift capacity of Starship, as well as in how much cryogenic methane and liquid oxygen will boil off in orbit and how efficient the process of transferring propellants from one ship to another will be.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of transfer

Verb

Over the course of her long career, Curtis, 67, has developed a lengthy résumé in film and television, winning numerous accolades along the way, including an Oscar and an Emmy (she’s been nominated for a Grammy too — there’s still time for an EGOT).

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The Sakharov winner is chosen by the European Parliament's president and top EU lawmakers from among candidates nominated by the parliament’s various political groups.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of nominate

Cite this Entry

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“Assign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assign. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of assign

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