1
as in ascribes
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
attributed the quick rescue to the well-trained police force
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Relevance
2
as in explains
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
as in characteristics
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind
list the attributes of a mammal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attributes
Anabella González, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
While the Air Force and Space Force have met their 2026 recruiting targets ahead of schedule, the Pentagon attributes much of the military recruiting shortfall to a smaller pool of qualified applicants.
—Emily Guskin, ABC News, 1 May 2026
The Charlotte diocese attributes some of its growth to the region’s growing population overall, especially folks moving in from more traditionally Catholic areas such as the Northeast, Midwest and Latin American countries, Chandler said.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Now, research strengthens an alternative theory that attributes the cooling to a violent cluster of volcanic eruptions.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The Farmer’s Almanac attributes the name to several possible North American sources, including the Algonquin peoples of the continent’s northeast and/or the Dakota people of the Midwest.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
PennDOT attributes the decrease in deaths to infrastructure improvements and initiatives like enforcement and education campaigns.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Connecticut, like the rest of the nation, has seen an uptick in these devices, a rise that the ATF attributes to 3D printing.
—Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
Gail Heltzer attributes it to the group’s open-mindedness and inherent chemistry.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
James Raia, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Durability has been one of Glesnes’ attributes since arriving in MLS.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 1 May 2026
Steller sea lions are separated into Western and Eastern populations and are differentiated by physical and genetic attributes.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Political messianism is a style of leadership that places great faith in a single leader who is endowed with godlike attributes.
—Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
His physical attributes are not going to overwhelm you.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
All of his greatest on-ice attributes — strength on the boards, the ability to hold onto the puck for long stretches, the vision, the determination, the trademark clutch moments — were on display Monday night.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Different power plants have different beneficial attributes, and nuclear power plants are especially adept at meeting round the clock demand.
—Paige Lambermont, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2026
The efforts to solve the object’s identity included genetic analysis and close examination of its physical attributes.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Argentina, a country that has been working to bring down skyrocketing inflation, is seeing another rise in the cost of living, which the government of President Javier Milei attributes, in part, to the Middle East conflict.
—Anabella González, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
While the Air Force and Space Force have met their 2026 recruiting targets ahead of schedule, the Pentagon attributes much of the military recruiting shortfall to a smaller pool of qualified applicants.
—Emily Guskin, ABC News, 1 May 2026
The Charlotte diocese attributes some of its growth to the region’s growing population overall, especially folks moving in from more traditionally Catholic areas such as the Northeast, Midwest and Latin American countries, Chandler said.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Now, research strengthens an alternative theory that attributes the cooling to a violent cluster of volcanic eruptions.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The Farmer’s Almanac attributes the name to several possible North American sources, including the Algonquin peoples of the continent’s northeast and/or the Dakota people of the Midwest.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
PennDOT attributes the decrease in deaths to infrastructure improvements and initiatives like enforcement and education campaigns.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Connecticut, like the rest of the nation, has seen an uptick in these devices, a rise that the ATF attributes to 3D printing.
—Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
Gail Heltzer attributes it to the group’s open-mindedness and inherent chemistry.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
While not the fastest nor sportiest luxury EV SUV, the Mercedes-Benz showcases the enduring carmaker’s best attributes.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Durability has been one of Glesnes’ attributes since arriving in MLS.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 1 May 2026
Steller sea lions are separated into Western and Eastern populations and are differentiated by physical and genetic attributes.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Political messianism is a style of leadership that places great faith in a single leader who is endowed with godlike attributes.
—Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
His physical attributes are not going to overwhelm you.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
All of his greatest on-ice attributes — strength on the boards, the ability to hold onto the puck for long stretches, the vision, the determination, the trademark clutch moments — were on display Monday night.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Different power plants have different beneficial attributes, and nuclear power plants are especially adept at meeting round the clock demand.
—Paige Lambermont, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2026
The efforts to solve the object’s identity included genetic analysis and close examination of its physical attributes.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attributes
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Brewer ascribes Starbucks’ success in Italy, where even the average person is a coffee connoisseur, to offering people, especially young people, a place to relax and enjoy a coffee.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This breakup analysis ascribes no value to the companies being under the same corporate parent.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Aubrey explains that discussing difficult topics openly has become a central part of the podcast’s purpose, particularly when those topics are often avoided in everyday conversation.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Advertisement Travers explains that this has consequences for the whole of British politics, as its parliamentary system is not designed to host a wide range of parties.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Different microclimates from mountain pastures to valley farms influence the milk’s characteristics.—
Antonia Mortensen,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
Analyze the traits shared by successful long shots in past Derbies, and identify horses carrying those characteristics in 2026.—
Peter Keating,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Silverman, who encountered the British original due to his parents, credits Tuccillo as instrumental to his vision of the show manifesting into reality.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
Simmons helped Flaherty get started in scouting players for 247Sports; Flaherty credits him for helping lead him to his current position.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
These are the same issues being raised across rural Texas as the state’s business-friendly environment and lack of regulations — the same qualities that attract many to country life — fuel an expansion of server farms from the Panhandle to the Valley.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
-
As the name indicates, it was intended for wear on boats but wound up being widely adopted by skaters because its deck-gripping qualities proved just as useful for sticking to boards.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
For character traits, officials look for tenacity, an unbridled love to pull and run as part of a team, and social skills.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Loyalty and purity of heart are beautiful traits that many, many people on this earth have.—
Goth Shakira
Contributing,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Death by Lightning features award-worthy leading performances by Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen as President James Garfield and his assassin Charles Guiteau, respectively.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
-
So the rocks gave way to water — an elevated pool scene with multiple water features, including a rock waterfall, plus a poolside shower and an adjacent entertainment nook built for the kind of long afternoons that turn into night.—
David Caraccio
May 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Political discussions on social media are often dominated by competing attributions of more and more insidious motives to people on the other side.—
Mark Schroeder,
The Conversation,
20 Feb. 2026
-
This post was corrected on 21 January 2021 to clarify attributions.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
12 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Attributes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attributes. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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