Synonyms of attribute

attribute 1 of 2

verb

ə-ˈtri-ˌbyüt 

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

• ascribe
• credit
• blame
• impute
• link
• refer
• assign
• put down
• lay
• connect
• chalk up
• attach
• accredit
• pin (on)
• impute (to)
• associate
• father (on)
• charge

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

• explain
• justify
• account (for)
• rationalize
• explain away
• excuse
• forgive
• condone
• vindicate
• absolve
• exonerate
• exculpate
• acquit

attribute

2 of 2

noun

ˈa-trə-ˌbyüt 

as in characteristic

something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind

list the attributes of a mammal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• characteristic
• feature
• trait
• attribution
• quality
• criterion
• property
• hallmark
• mark
• marker
• specific
• character
• peculiarity
• stamp
• symbol
• affection
• fingerprint
• particularity
• touch
• note
• indication
• point
• sign
• differentia
• diagnostic
• token
• virtue
• emblem
• badge
• merit
• grace
• charm
• excellence
• uniqueness
• eccentricity
• individuality
• singularity
• quirk
• idiosyncrasy
• oddity

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

Recent Examples of attribute

Verb

Christina Monde, Pasadena’s city project manager for the Arroyo Seco project, attributed some of the opposition to misconceptions, such as that Pasadena is cleaning the water in order to irrigate a golf course. — Mack Baysinger follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

While there is a broad range of styles across the 364 wineries in the region, the differences among the wines can mainly be attributed to vineyard exposure and terroir. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 26 July 2026

Noun

Data, access and prompts change, embeddings are refreshed, and new attributes emerge. — Saurabh Gupta, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Public speech was a—if not the—defining attribute of maleness. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026