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
Relevance
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
as in characteristic
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 attribute
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Jackman, who's been a pastor for more than four decades, attributed part of the success to an ethos of the church.
—
Noam Levey,
NPR,
28 June 2026
Joe Árvai,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Intention is a very powerful psychological attribute contributing toward any behavior change.
—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for attribute
Verb
Each year, car crashes in town are attributed to overgrown shrubs and bushes, alongside street corners and intersections, according to West Hartford town officials.
—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Jackman, who's been a pastor for more than four decades, attributed part of the success to an ethos of the church.
—
Noam Levey,
NPR,
28 June 2026
Noun
Some efforts to mislead the public falsely attribute climate change to natural forces; deny links between greenhouse gas emissions, rising temperatures and extreme weather; and cast doubt on solutions such as renewable energy and electric vehicles.
—
Joe Árvai,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Intention is a very powerful psychological attribute contributing toward any behavior change.
—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for attribute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attribute
Verb
-
Context matters for understanding the meaning that many in Argentina ascribed to that goal.
-
In line with the science of his time, which said that lunar craters were volcanic, Verne ascribes his flickering light to an eruption.
Verb
-
Faith, hope drive Venezuelan community's response The day the earthquakes struck was a holiday in Venezuela, which may explain why many families were at home when the disaster occurred, while some children were visiting friends or relatives.
-
Maybe that explains her chaotic behavior when the crew goes out later that night.
Noun
-
Continuous review President reviews, according to CSU policy, allow the CSU board of trustees to understand the unique characteristics of each campus, assess their leadership and further the school’s progress.
-
The game changer was a move to fermentation in stainless-steel tanks or neutral wood barrels, which imparted fewer oak characteristics to the wines.
Verb
-
Carver is credited with developing more than 300 products from peanuts and 118 from sweet potatoes to help Southern farmers diversify crops and escape cotton dependency that had damaged soil (and lives) over decades of monocropping.
-
Holiday credited Glushon and his agency for helping him and his wife, Lauren, with moving logistics, travel itineraries and property searches following each of his trades.
Verb
-
Wall Street is increasingly punishing Big Tech companies for spending on AI without profits to justify it.
-
Thus far, Meta was only monetizing AI through its advertising, which is a great business but can be cyclical and was not enough to justify using all its cash flow.
Noun
-
The company is selling highly customizable electric vehicles that come with few standard features, but plenty of optional add-ons.
-
Stars from Rowling's Harry Potter feature films have also criticized her stances, including Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe.
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.
-
Caretakers manage breeding programs to preserve their distinctive traits, including their long horns and rich brown coloring, a shade associated with royalty, maturity and stability.
Noun
-
This stark discrepancy—akin to selling a Hermès bag at a 60 percent discount in one location while attempting to sell it at full price at a nearby store—has exacerbated mistrust in the art system’s attribution of prices and value.
-
The fight over attribution Why is there so much fuss about scientific advice to judges?
Cite this Entry
“Attribute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attribute. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
