as in complementary
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 contributory
Jim Williams shared that Adam Williams’ official cause of death was atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with obesity as a contributory factor.
—
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Tyson pointed to other religions' customs, like the Muslim practice of praying five times a day or Catholics attending mass, as significant contributory components to communities here on Earth.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Dec. 2025
In his 1985 report, Popplewell cited the lack of fire extinguishers or clearly signposted evacuation routes as a contributory factor, along with the locked exit gates and no one knowing who was in overall control of the matchday operation.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The news comes in the wake of health officials announcing that Arakawa died at 65 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare condition that comes from contact with rodents, and Hackman subsequently died at 95 from heart disease, with Alzheimer's as a significant contributory factor.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contributory
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Tyson pointed to other religions' customs, like the Muslim practice of praying five times a day or Catholics attending mass, as significant contributory components to communities here on Earth.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Dec. 2025
In his 1985 report, Popplewell cited the lack of fire extinguishers or clearly signposted evacuation routes as a contributory factor, along with the locked exit gates and no one knowing who was in overall control of the matchday operation.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The news comes in the wake of health officials announcing that Arakawa died at 65 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare condition that comes from contact with rodents, and Hackman subsequently died at 95 from heart disease, with Alzheimer's as a significant contributory factor.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contributory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contributory
Adjective
-
Bright orange-red shells turned heads, hinting at the bold and surprisingly complementary caramelized and crustacean flavors.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
-
So for us the two fairs are complementary.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
By providing early warning, Vision Guard aims to give troops additional time to respond before a drone can conduct surveillance or deliver an attack.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
-
This article has been updated with additional information.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Going back and forth with Qatari officials, who had been in Tehran to try to get the agreement completed, US officials sought to prevent further conflict, the sources said.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
The federal agency has yet to disclose further details about the tornadoes.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Her care team was gently urging her to switch to supportive, closed-toe footwear.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
Her manager was supportive but company policy was less so.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contributory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contributory. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
