attach

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2
3
as in to confiscate
to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority attached the house for nonpayment of property taxes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word attach distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of attach are affix, fasten, and fix. While all these words mean "to make something stay firmly in place," attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together.

attach the W-2 form here

When could affix be used to replace attach?

The words affix and attach can be used in similar contexts, but affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing.

affix your address label here

Where would fasten be a reasonable alternative to attach?

In some situations, the words fasten and attach are roughly equivalent. However, fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing.

fasten the reins to a post

When is it sensible to use fix instead of attach?

The synonyms fix and attach are sometimes interchangeable, but fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding.

fixed the stake in the ground

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 attach As Winchester recalls it, the week after the 2015 Chiefs tumbled to 1-5 with a 16-10 loss at Minnesota, players found in their lockers key chains with miniature levelers attached. Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2025 Another big bonus: These goggles come with MFI (magnetic facemask integration), or a face mask that magnetically attaches to the bottom of the goggles to cover your whole face. Kristin Canning, SELF, 6 Feb. 2025 Across her chest, Jenner wore a black crossbody bag strap with no visible bag attached. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 28 Jan. 2025 But there are still no emotions attached, no real connection to the person who went through it. Susan Young, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for attach 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attach
Verb
  • On and after the Jan. 1, 1923, date of maturity, the post office will pay $5 for each stamp affixed to a folder.
    Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • But as a Community Note affixed to that tweet notes, Trump's executive order—signed on Jan. 20—gives the Interior Secretary 30 days to make the change.
    Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • At the time, Warner Bros. appointed Kids, Young Adult and Classics president Tom Ascheim to manage the Wizarding World and Potter franchises, which include theme parks, tours and the $9.1 billion-grossing theatrical library that spans the Harry Potter and spinoff Fantastic Beasts titles.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The county Board of Supervisors will appoint Gibson — who will take sponsor group training before being seated as a new member — likely in March.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • So detectives confiscated his pants and swabbed his back pocket in case the culprit left behind DNA.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The South African Government has not confiscated any land.
    Kate Bartlett, NPR, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Trump nominated Ed Martin, an election denier who was outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, to be U.S. attorney for Washington.
    David Leonhardt, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Three of the film’s stars — Timothée Chalamet, who plays Dylan, Edward Norton, who plays Pete Seeger, and Monica Barbaro, who plays Joan Baez — have been nominated for acting Oscars for their performances in it.
    Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Who was Roland Bragg? Bragg was born in Sabattus, Maine, in 1923, and after joining the Army was assigned to the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, according to the DoD. He was stationed at Fort Bragg during World War II and ended up fighting in Europe.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Maximo, who’s 6-foot-8, was assigned to guard Nikolas Khamenia of Harvard-Westlake and Tyran Stokes of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, two All-Americans.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Additionally, in April 2015, Consumer Affairs Victoria launched an investigation into Gibson to determine if her actions constituted consumer fraud, The Guardian reported.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Then again, there are no rules dictating what constitutes a white rum (or gold or dark rum for that matter), and Equiano’s light, delicate flavor profile fits best in the white rum category.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Within a year, Quiet Parks International had formed and designated its first quiet park in the northeast corner of Ecuador.
    Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
  • Google has repeatedly designated the University of Bologna in Italy as the first and continuously operating university founded in 1088.
    Doris Bittar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The base was renamed Fort Liberty in 2023 because it was originally named after Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, but a Pentagon statement on Monday gave its full new name as Fort Roland L. Bragg.
    Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The world's finest geographers, experts who study the Earth's natural environment, have concluded a decades long council and determined that a Great Lake deserves to be named after a great state.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near attach

Cite this Entry

“Attach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attach. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on attach

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