1
as in ascribing
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
attributed the quick rescue to the well-trained police force
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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
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Recent Examples of attributing
Critics argue that attributing human-like emotions to AI is a form of anthropomorphism, where the complex processes of AI optimization are mistakenly equated with human feelings.
—
Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Schwieterman also has his own concerns about attributing this signature to DMS.
—Perri Thaler, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Musk has a history of attributing technical snafus to cyberattacks.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Despite significant transformation efforts, McCall acknowledged the company’s share price remains under pressure, attributing this to broader market sentiment toward media stocks rather than company performance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
Bender was cautious about attributing such complex emotions to cats.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Republicans have slammed the interruptions, attributing them to Democratic agitators.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 4 Mar. 2025
But Spain's situation seems to be improving, with 1,378 more births in 2024 than in 2023, and analysts are attributing this to immigration.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
Such a proliferation of storms is rare but not unprecedented, NASA noted, with meteorologists attributing the display in part to warm sea surface temperatures and weak wind shear conditions.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Schwieterman also has his own concerns about attributing this signature to DMS.
—Perri Thaler, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Musk has a history of attributing technical snafus to cyberattacks.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Despite significant transformation efforts, McCall acknowledged the company’s share price remains under pressure, attributing this to broader market sentiment toward media stocks rather than company performance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
Bender was cautious about attributing such complex emotions to cats.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Republicans have slammed the interruptions, attributing them to Democratic agitators.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 4 Mar. 2025
But Spain's situation seems to be improving, with 1,378 more births in 2024 than in 2023, and analysts are attributing this to immigration.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
Such a proliferation of storms is rare but not unprecedented, NASA noted, with meteorologists attributing the display in part to warm sea surface temperatures and weak wind shear conditions.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attributing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attributing. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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