attributing

present participle of attribute
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

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 attributing Lucy Tobier Braun suggested potential legal challenges to his ability to extend the gas tax pause by attributing it to a new cause would be politically motivated. Lucy Tobier, IndyStar, 6 Aug. 2026 The company, founded in 2020, cut staff earlier this year, attributing the reductions to its increasing allocation of resources toward prediction markets. Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 30 July 2026 Some experts warn that attributing too much to AI could give tech companies a loophole to avoid responsibility and liability. Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 But attributing Morocco’s triumph to autocracy misses the point. Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 Others have even demeaned the credibility of his creative achievements and professional accolades, attributing such success as a mere byproduct of his proximity and relationship to Hov. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 28 July 2026 While many will surely roll their eyes, attributing the brand’s momentum and visibility to its founder, many recognize her ability to identify and develop strong business opportunities. Clara Ludmir, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Confidence is also relatively high for attributing the contributions of climate change for large-scale heavy rainfall events, tropical cyclones, and droughts in some regions. Deepti Singh, The Conversation, 24 July 2026 These points were each raw nerves, and Iran vivisected them adeptly while attributing the pain to the United States. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attributing
Verb
  • But most disagreed, ascribing them to abiotic reactions and stressing that, overall, the Viking data paint a picture of a dead planet.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 20 July 2026
  • Their vocabulary changes Shifts in language and attitude are usually the first signs your son may be ascribing to red pill ideology.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • Their background needs explaining, and there is less internal precedent for what success looks like.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Creighton jokes, explaining that making the film accessible to people is far more interesting to her than some sort of contrived celebrity impact campaign.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But even with the large number of new faces, the KU head coach stated that this year’s group has been playing with improved communication and confidence since the spring, crediting players such as Lathan for taking on a more vocal role.
    Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In 2022, the Brosnans spoke with PEOPLE about the secret to their lasting love, crediting their friendship.
    Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Steve Nesius | Reuters For analysts at Bernstein, Starship is the most important issue for SpaceX in justifying its valuation.
    Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Organizations that approach agentic AI this way build foundational capabilities that span dozens of workflows and shift the ROI conversation from justifying each agent individually to achieving compounding returns across the enterprise.
    Joe Locandro, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Attributing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attributing. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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