vestige

1
as in relic
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke

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2
as in footstep
the mark or impression made by a foot the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word vestige distinct from other similar nouns?

The words trace and track are common synonyms of vestige. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," vestige applies to a tangible reminder such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

boulders that are vestiges of the last ice age

When could trace be used to replace vestige?

In some situations, the words trace and vestige are roughly equivalent. However, trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

Where would track be a reasonable alternative to vestige?

While the synonyms track and vestige are close in meaning, track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

Examples of vestige in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Many of us carry the vestiges of this feeling as adults or as parents who’ve taken on the mantle of school-supply shopping and giddy first day send-offs. Christine Pride, SELF, 25 Sep. 2024 These bills aren’t some bizarre push to allow prisoners to refuse to do any chores but an effort to finally expunge the last vestiges of de jure involuntary servitude and slavery from our system. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2024 Soon after Musk became Twitter’s owner, firing thousands of employees, several floors of the building were effectively closed; and when the company was renamed X, the famous Twitter sign (along with all other vestiges of the company’s pre-Musk era) were summarily removed. Kali Hays, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2024 But the hotel cleverly embraced the vestiges of its former life for a one-of-a-kind experience. Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vestige 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vestige.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Vestige.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestige. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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