There are two ways of using the infinitive as an adjective, 1. attributive, 2. predicative. Naturally 2. is a subject complement.
Source: tatoeba (328622)
Attributive
/əˈtɹɪ.bju.tɪv/
Synonyms for "attributive" (56 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (12)
Adjective(2 words)
Noun(3 words)
Determiner(1 words)
childrens song
Strong matches (16)
Related words (28)
levelmodifiernominalobjectpart of speechparticipialparticipleparticlepredicateprepositionprepositionalqualifierrankslotstructuralstructuresubjectsubstantivesyntacticsyntactics
Show 3 more words
Noun(3 words)
Adjective(2 words)
qualifyingshort duration
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: prenominal, adjectival, adjectival modifier, adjective, adverb.
- Sentence evidence is available for attributive, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "attributive".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "attributive"
Keep "attributive" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "attributive" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "attributive", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "attributive" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
4 entriesCollocations
6 entriesattributive adjectiveattributive positionattributive syntaxdescriptive adjectiveprenominal adjectiveprenominal modifier
Inflections
2 entriesmore attributivemost attributive
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
1 entriesattributive genitive
Translations
21 translations across 20 languages.
Azerbaijani
1 entries- təyini adj (of, or being an attributive)
Catalan
1 entries- atributiu adj (of, or being an attributive)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 定語的 /定语的 adj (of, or being an attributive)
Danish
1 entries- attributiv adj (of, or being an attributive)
Dutch
1 entries- attributief adj (of, or being an attributive)
Finnish
1 entries- attributiivinen adj (of, or being an attributive)
French
1 entries- épithète adj (of, or being an attributive)
Galician
1 entries- atributivo adj (of, or being an attributive)
German
1 entries- attributiv adj (of, or being an attributive)
Hungarian
1 entries- jelzői adj (of, or being an attributive)
Irish
1 entries- aitreabúideach adj (of, or being an attributive)
Japanese
1 entries- 限定的な adj (of, or being an attributive)
Kazakh
1 entries- анықтауыштық adj (of, or being an attributive)
Polish
2 entries- atrybutywny adj (of, or being an attributive)
- określający adj (of, or being an attributive)
Romanian
1 entries- atributiv adj (of, or being an attributive)
Russian
1 entries- определи́тельный adj (of, or being an attributive)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- buaidh-aithriseach adj (of, or being an attributive)
Spanish
1 entries- atributivo adj (of, or being an attributive)
Swedish
1 entries- attributiv adj (of, or being an attributive)
Welsh
1 entries- disgrifiadol adj (of, or being an attributive)
Sample sentences
11 total sentences available.
In Russian, attributive adjectives agree with nouns and pronouns in gender, number and case.
Source: tatoeba (10521040)
In "this big house", big is attributive, whereas in "this house is big", it is predicative.
Source: wiktionary
In "this tiger is a man-eater," man is an attributive noun.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "attributive"?
Closest matches include prenominal, adjectival, adjectival modifier, adjective, adverb.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "attributive"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.