ASSIGN Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'assign' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of assign are ascribe , attribute , credit , and impute . While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation. // assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

Q: In what contexts can 'ascribe' take the place of 'assign'?

The synonyms ascribe and assign are sometimes interchangeable, but ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship. // forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

Q: How is 'attribute' related to other words for 'assign'?

Attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe , less definiteness than assign . // attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

Q: Where would 'credit' be a reasonable alternative to 'assign'?

In some situations, the words credit and assign are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'impute' instead of 'assign'?

While in some cases nearly identical to assign , impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame. // tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

assign

verb

ə-ˈsīn

Definition of assign next

as in to task

to give a task, duty, or responsibility to assigned the class with the task of finding something in the state constitution they felt needed changing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to allot

to give as a share or portion each new employee is assigned a cubicle and a computer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cede

to give over the legal possession or ownership of assigned all rights to and royalties from the song to the Boy Scouts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

expropriate

as in to appoint

to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty the mayor assigned the panel with the task of luring a major sports franchise to the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of assign are ascribe, attribute, credit, and impute. While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation.

assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

In what contexts can ascribe take the place of assign?

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

forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

How is attribute related to other words for assign?

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

attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

Where would credit be a reasonable alternative to assign?

In some situations, the words credit and assign are roughly equivalent. However, 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

When is it sensible to use impute instead of assign?

While in some cases nearly identical to assign, impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame.

tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

Examples 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 assign The uploads were all assigned the same generic file names—IMG_0000, IMG_0001, IMG_0002, etc. —

Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024 Recalled dog treats sold online and in stores in 19 U.S. states have been assigned the highest risk level by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). —

Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024 This turn toward the maternal is key to other directives that Roz assigns herself out of an emerging desire to help the animals survive. —

Elvia Wilk, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024 Officers in patrol commands are also constantly being temporarily assigned to fill gaps outside their commands. —

Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assign

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assign

Verb

The recommendation to kill the crash-reporting rule came from a transition team tasked with producing a 100-day strategy for automotive policy.

Jarrett Renshaw, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024
During Ashley Tisdale’s episode of Open Door, the actor turned designer admitted to tasking her husband with buying extra books to fill the shelves in their living room at the last minute.

Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 13 Dec. 2024