Synonyms of impute

impute

verb

im-ˈpyüt 

as in to ascribe

to explain (something) as being the result of something else

people often impute his silence to unfriendliness and not to the shyness it really represents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word impute different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of impute are ascribe, assign, attribute, and credit. While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame.

tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

When can ascribe be used instead of impute?

The synonyms ascribe and impute are sometimes interchangeable, but ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship.

forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

When is assign a more appropriate choice than impute?

The meanings of assign and impute largely overlap; however, assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation.

assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

How is attribute related to other words for impute?

Attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe, less definiteness than assign.

attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

When would credit be a good substitute for impute?

The words credit and impute are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of impute

The data are incomplete in some places and therefore are imputed, the report says. — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 9 Dec. 2025

That accusation prompted the Senate’s presiding chair to step in and warn Peters that Senate Rule XIX states that senators shall not impute to another senator any conduct or motive unworthy of being a senator. — Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2025

That means that now, more than a third of price data in the CPI is imputed—estimated rather than directly observed—since fewer agents are collecting prices in person. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025

That imputes a total cost of $566 million. — Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 4 Sep. 2025

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