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
Some public health departments in the Golden State attribute declining vaccination rates to such programs, which can enroll hundreds or even thousands of children. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 The automaker has seen its value collapse recently, partly attributed to Musk’s close ties to President Donald Trump and Musk’s role as the head of the cost-and-job-cutting Department of Government Efficiency. Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
Casas, whose primary attribute is his power, has managed only one homer so far. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025 Ryan said one of Pyke’s best attributes is her ability to not get overwhelmed by the moment. Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for attribute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attribute
Verb
  • Carlos Santana likes to ascribe metaphors to his music.
    Gary Graff, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Lu ascribes the game’s longevity to none other than community.
    Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The reason for the independence, the Brookings Institution explains, is that politicians tend to want lower interest rates because lower rates stimulate the economy.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • If yes, please explain: Only at the misdemeanor level.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In 2010, for example, literary scholar Julie Brown suggested that renowned American poet Emily Dickinson had characteristics – such as sensory issues, social quirkiness and a savant’s command of language – that align with those of some individuals on the autism spectrum.
    Bradley J. Irish, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Users still can't control the number of speakers, their demographic characteristics, accents, or conversation length.
    Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As the investigation continued, more murders were credited to Heuermann.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari is credited with first discovering the corpse flower in 1878.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The myth that trans women are a danger to cis women is a grossly transphobic stereotype with almost no real-world justification, but Rowling pins most of her anti-trans arguments on it, using her experience as a survivor of domestic abuse to justify her prejudice.
    Aja Romano, Vox, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The funding freezes and cuts have been imposed before the completion of full investigations, and different legal rationales have been offered to justify them.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The ability of car companies to charge users to activate some features is effectively the only reason the car’s systems need to communicate with cell towers.
    Dell Cameron, Wired News, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The Department of Education appears to have removed a key new feature of the StudentAid.gov website that has allowed borrowers to track their student loan forgiveness progress.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • While the natural traits and intellect of Gates and Allen were crucial for Microsoft’s eventual success, so too was their willingness to learn from an early failure and apply themselves in a new venture.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Language has often been cited as a uniquely human trait in arguments against extending rights to animals.
    David Gruber, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This article has been updated to correct the attribution for a quote.
    Alex Sherman, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Build attribution models to justify budget allocation for all marketing campaigns and activities.
    Deboshree Sarkar, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Attribute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attribute. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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