1
as in ascribing
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 explaining
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attributing
Ye has previously faced backlash for controversial statements and actions, later attributing them to mental health issues.
—
Natassia Paloma,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
In January, West issued a public apology for his antisemitic comments in a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, attributing his behavior to struggles with bipolar disorder.
—
Cbs Miami Team,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Analysts suggest investors are paying a significant premium, attributing much of the company's worth to Musk, mirroring Tesla's market cap.
—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
For offensive players, attributing this Goal Contribution to the players involved in the event is pretty uncomplicated.
—
Ethan Douglas,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
But a retirement album this is not, and not just because Latto walked back her assertion in her interview with Nadeska, attributing the impulse to a depressive low in the new-album-and-new-motherhood process.
—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Pitchfork,
4 June 2026
No definitive cause was reported, though the Tribune ran one story attributing the explosion to a static spark lighting the highly flammable hydrogen gas.
—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
The Virginia house of burgesses voted to thank him and the militia for their service, with the lawmakers attributing the defeat to the failure of the other colonies to come to Virginia’s aid.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Slok has previously invoked Jevons paradox to explain why AI will actually create more jobs overall, despite some employers attributing layoffs to the technology.
—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
Natassia Paloma,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
In January, West issued a public apology for his antisemitic comments in a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, attributing his behavior to struggles with bipolar disorder.
—
Cbs Miami Team,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Analysts suggest investors are paying a significant premium, attributing much of the company's worth to Musk, mirroring Tesla's market cap.
—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
For offensive players, attributing this Goal Contribution to the players involved in the event is pretty uncomplicated.
—
Ethan Douglas,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
But a retirement album this is not, and not just because Latto walked back her assertion in her interview with Nadeska, attributing the impulse to a depressive low in the new-album-and-new-motherhood process.
—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Pitchfork,
4 June 2026
No definitive cause was reported, though the Tribune ran one story attributing the explosion to a static spark lighting the highly flammable hydrogen gas.
—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
The Virginia house of burgesses voted to thank him and the militia for their service, with the lawmakers attributing the defeat to the failure of the other colonies to come to Virginia’s aid.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Slok has previously invoked Jevons paradox to explain why AI will actually create more jobs overall, despite some employers attributing layoffs to the technology.
—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attributing
Verb
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The group immediate drew praise on social media for not ascribing the cancellation to anything beyond the most obvious factors.
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Wednesday’s verdict in Los Angeles on the ninth day of jury deliberations shows the difficulty of ascribing how much social media is to blame for youths suffering varying degrees of distress.
Verb
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Infographic explaining Euclid's survey ESA The original image was captured in black and white, but color was added using observations from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope located in Hawaii.
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The original is a minor Harding work, Bacon said, explaining why judges might not have recognized Allan’s submission as a re-creation.
Verb
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Rutte frequently flatters the president, crediting him with getting NATO members to increase their defense spending.
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During the 2025 postseason, Randle shook his reputation for fading in the playoffs, crediting his perseverance to a mentality instilled in him many years earlier by Bryant.
Verb
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This looser-fitting top sits right at the waistband and is made of a durable nylon and elastane blend that resists wear and tear (justifying the price point).
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Musk’s position that his two top holdings share a common AI vision gives him cover for justifying a deal.
Cite this Entry
“Attributing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attributing. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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