Attribute
Attribute verb - To give the reason for or cause of.
Usage example: a psychotherapist who's a little too quick to attribute every emotional problem or character defect to an unhappy childhood
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Synonyms for Attribute
Explain away and attribute are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Explain away" instead a verb "Attribute".
Explain away
Explain away verb - To give the reason for or cause of.
Usage example: after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness
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Synonyms for Explain away
Attribute and explain away are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Attribute" instead a verb "Explain away".
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Explain away and Attribute. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/attribute/explain_away
Attribute & Explain away. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/attribute/explain_away>.
Explain away or Attribute. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/attribute/explain_away.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "attribute" and "explain away" have occurred on timeline