1
as in ascribes
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
attributed the quick rescue to the well-trained police force
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 attributes
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Engel attributes the retention to the bonds built at the residency.
—
Kansas City Star,
2 July 2026
Spending on Medi-Cal has more than doubled over the last 10 years, which the LAO attributes to an increase in costs per enrollee, more enrollees and a greater share of seniors seeking care, among other factors.
—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Palestra’s versatility is one of his standout attributes.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Andrabi attributes Democratic failure to Harris’ uninspiring centrism, and there were certainly people who declined to vote for her out of disgust with Biden’s unstinting support for Israel.
—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
27 June 2026
Bain attributes this trend to an appetite for self-expression over status-signaling goods.
—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
Al-Khayyat attributes the company’s success to a combination of serendipity and execution.
—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
24 June 2026
Alpert attributes it to the combination of the organic cotton cover and the airflow channels in the layers and coils that align just so.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
Emmanuel Olunkwa,
Architectural Digest,
1 July 2026
As a 6-foot-6 lefty who can follow a game plan, Peterson has several of the attributes that the Cubs typically look for.
—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Whether these attributes prove to be enough for Les Bleus to reach a third straight World Cup final remains to be seen.
—
Clemente Lisi,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Create Layers Gardens in shade often rely less on color and more on other attributes to please the eye.
—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2026
While a kit’s physical attributes are important for athletes, its appearance is just as significant for fans who sport the jerseys and want to feel connected to their team.
—
Claire Rush,
Fortune,
28 June 2026
While a kit’s physical attributes are important for athletes, its appearance is just as significant for fans who sport the jerseys and want to feel connected to their team.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
Students who didn’t fall in love showed the opposite trend a shrinking list of attributes, suggesting a loss of self-esteem.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Davis points out that the mansion's unique attributes presented a tricky subject for the cover's artists.
—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
25 June 2026
Verb
The Federal Reserve attributes much of the gap to a capital stock the United States renews faster than anyone else, and the IMF to European firms that stay too small and invest too little to reach the frontier.
—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Engel attributes the retention to the bonds built at the residency.
—
Kansas City Star,
2 July 2026
Spending on Medi-Cal has more than doubled over the last 10 years, which the LAO attributes to an increase in costs per enrollee, more enrollees and a greater share of seniors seeking care, among other factors.
—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Palestra’s versatility is one of his standout attributes.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Andrabi attributes Democratic failure to Harris’ uninspiring centrism, and there were certainly people who declined to vote for her out of disgust with Biden’s unstinting support for Israel.
—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
27 June 2026
Bain attributes this trend to an appetite for self-expression over status-signaling goods.
—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
Al-Khayyat attributes the company’s success to a combination of serendipity and execution.
—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
24 June 2026
Alpert attributes it to the combination of the organic cotton cover and the airflow channels in the layers and coils that align just so.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
Noun
These attributes feel increasingly resonant for the fashion industry, whose demands have only continued to expand due to the churn of seasonal, pre-seasonal, resort, special collaborations, and capsule collections.
—
Emmanuel Olunkwa,
Architectural Digest,
1 July 2026
As a 6-foot-6 lefty who can follow a game plan, Peterson has several of the attributes that the Cubs typically look for.
—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Whether these attributes prove to be enough for Les Bleus to reach a third straight World Cup final remains to be seen.
—
Clemente Lisi,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Create Layers Gardens in shade often rely less on color and more on other attributes to please the eye.
—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2026
While a kit’s physical attributes are important for athletes, its appearance is just as significant for fans who sport the jerseys and want to feel connected to their team.
—
Claire Rush,
Fortune,
28 June 2026
While a kit’s physical attributes are important for athletes, its appearance is just as significant for fans who sport the jerseys and want to feel connected to their team.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
Students who didn’t fall in love showed the opposite trend a shrinking list of attributes, suggesting a loss of self-esteem.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Davis points out that the mansion's unique attributes presented a tricky subject for the cover's artists.
—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attributes
Verb
-
In line with the science of his time, which said that lunar craters were volcanic, Verne ascribes his flickering light to an eruption.
-
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.
Verb
-
Maybe that explains her chaotic behavior when the crew goes out later that night.
-
Deputy Ethan Weinzieri explains just some of the work the dogs do.
Noun
-
Due to her limited knowledge of the lore, there were characteristics that guided her transformation.
-
Three months later, the Supreme Court voted to allow immigration agents to stop people based on racial or ethnic characteristics while still-ongoing litigation against it proceeded.
Verb
-
Gaynor, who grew up in Illinois, also credits the books for teaching her about the 19th and early 20th century Swedish emigration in her region.
-
Purvis credits her parents — Mireille, who still lives in South Florida, and her father, who died several years ago – with keeping the spirit of that bicentennial baby and hopeful 10-year-old girl watching fireworks on Miami Beach alive.
Noun
-
All three qualities are on display in a weekend retreat the firm designed on Shelter Island, a bucolic haven wedged between Long Island’s North and South Forks, just up the road from The Hamptons.
-
In his press conferences, the Scot spoke about the different qualities — the speed and direct play — the Englishman brought to the table.
Noun
-
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
-
Despite numerous myths, a cat's fur color does not impact its personality traits.
Noun
-
Update to the latest version to see all Vogue content, as well as new features like our Runway Genius quiz, Group Chats, and posts from Vogue contributors.
-
Organizing Elements To really put your mudroom over the top, consider incorporating features that help make organizing your home easier.
Noun
-
The work has bounced between several attributions over the years before scholar Giuseppe Porzio identified it as a painting by Glielmo, giving bidders a fresh reason to take notice.
-
Political discussions on social media are often dominated by competing attributions of more and more insidious motives to people on the other side.
Cite this Entry
“Attributes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attributes. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
