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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 assign About 2,192 firefighters have been assigned to the Timber fire and 661 to the Plaskett fire, with more expected to arrive in the coming days. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The 78 soldiers, assigned to the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, touched down at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, according to a news release Friday from the Arkansas National Guard. — Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2026 Food and drink Three meals a day—included in the rate, except for alcohol—are served in the main lodge, with every group being assigned the same table during their stay. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026 Two of the witnesses who testified were originally assigned to investigate Wallace’s death – not Shakur’s. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assign

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assign

Verb

She was tasked with balancing inflation control against the risk of rate hikes dampening economic recovery.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Markovic is a deputy principal investigator for one of the teams tasked with analyzing the barrage of data (enough to fill up the storage on about 40,000 laptops over Roman’s five-year mission).

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of task

Verb

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, which covers an area just outside New Orleans and was allotted the highest amount — nearly $4 million through 2025 — did not respond to more than a dozen calls and emails.

— Aneri Pattani — KFF Health News, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026
For example, the original plan by the department’s consultant assumed that the park would have access to a sewer main and allotted about $76,000 for a routine sewer connection.

— Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of allot

Verb

After ceding its lead, first to Red Bull and then to McLaren, his team is atop the standings again and favored to win the 2026 season.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Once in office, however, Biden ceded his domestic agenda to progressives who believed in Sanders’s vision of transformational change.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of cede

Verb

Licata and Fort Worth ISD’s Board of Managers implemented the Elevate model for the district’s most struggling campuses shortly after they were appointed to their jobs by the Texas Education Agency as part of its takeover of the district.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
To respect constitutional separation of powers and separation of executive authority, dedicated inspectors general would be appointed in the commission to investigate specific executive branches and the legislature.

— Collin Corbett, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of appoint

Verb

The Giants are entrusting Bryce Eldridge, their 21-year-old rookie, with the job of protecting Devers in the lineup.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
My teenage aunts, entrusted with the care of thousands of white larvae feasting on lush, thick mulberry leaves, had to get up in the middle of the night to scatter more leaves into the trays.

— Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of entrust

Verb

Given the importance of capturing Druzhkivka, Russian forces have allocated significant drone resources to support operations in the area.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
In June, lawmakers approved a major expansion of the funding allocated each year to the state’s film and television tax credit program, moving to raise that cap to $750 million from $330 million.

— Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of allocate

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“Assign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assign. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of assign

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