LACES Synonyms: 244 Similar and Opposite Words

laces 1 of 2

noun

plural of lace

as in wires

a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things I had to replace the lace of my shoe because it kept breaking whenever I pulled the knot too tight

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as in braids

a length of something formed of three or more strands woven together there will be gold lace decorating both sleeves of the new uniform

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laces

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lace

as in weaves

to cause to twine about one another the gardener laced the shoots of ivy around the trellis to direct their growth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in inserts

to scatter or set here and there among other things the decorator laced small mirrors among the knickknacks for added effect

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as in licks

to strike repeatedly laced the seaman's back with the cat-o'-nine-tails

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as in spices

to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored a savory dish laced with saffron and ginger

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as in loads

to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances animal control fed the bear food laced with a sedative

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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 laces

Noun

Plus, the long, ribbon-like laces give you plenty of styling options. — Sarah Felbin, InStyle, 13 Nov. 2026 Many of his shoes rank as conversation starters, from a derby with its toe box bulging with sparkly, nail-like studs, to sneakers with childlike shapes and figures splayed over the laces, collar and quarters. — Jennie Bell, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026 The Hotshot is made from duraleather and real pigskin suede overlays, and per usual, your recipient won’t have to struggle to put on their shoes, thanks to the no-tie laces and slip-in design. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 2 Nov. 2026 For an even more current take, look for details like double laces or opt for a pair with a retro feel. — Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026

Verb

In addition to releasing her own music that laces tropical music with urban and pop, Darlin is the founder and band leader of the all-female group Sandungueras Band. — Natalia Cano, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026 When Molly holds out her empty hand, Yvette stares at it, then shoves her dustpan under one arm, laces her fingers through Molly’s. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026 Off-duty, Styles often laces up Adidas sneakers. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 26 May 2026 Just a little farther up the lakeshore, co-owner Yasuaki Saito’s new spot laces its breakfast menu with Japanese ingredients and Americana swagger. — Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026 Still, twice a week, Isai laces up her sneakers and plays pickup at a local gym. — Eden Laase, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026 Paige is little more than a dumb blonde stereotype, another underwritten female character in Sheridan’s growing oeuvre, but Chapman laces her babyish whining with surprising bite, while showing a knack for physical comedy. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2026 For The Union-Tribune On most weekends of the year, Joe Mullins laces up his running shoes and races a 5K in San Diego. — Eleanor Yang Su, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025 The skate laces Kirill Kaprizov untied following the Minnesota Wild’s morning skate on Friday were white. — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for laces

Noun

Since the advent of electricity generation, political leaders believed in the public benefits of this essential resource and that a delivery monopoly—a single set of wires to each home or business—was prudent.

— John Farrell, Time, 9 Nov. 2026
Most of the cost of generating and delivering electricity is based on large, up-front capital costs, such as the costs to build power plants, wires and transmission lines to carry that power into homes.

— Shannon Osaka, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of wires

Noun

Traditional military details, including frogging, soutache, braids and decorative cords, are used as decorative elements in unusual ways — such as appearing on pant legs instead of jackets — rather than references to military rank.

— Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2026
The 38-year-old mogul was spotted arriving at her favorite restaurant in Santa Monica this week with long, curly braids styled in a half-up-half-down look.

— Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of braids

Verb

My family still weaves jewelry from kunngobarn (pandanus), harvested fresh from the bush with a manmarli (hooked stick), then dried and dyed with roots, berries, and flowers.

— Liam Freeman, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026
Black weaves Indigenous storytelling and a smudge ceremony into the Nordic experience.

— Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of weaves

Verb

Instead of putting bourbon into a new set of barrels, the distillery inserts 10 virgin French oak staves that have been seared into cask-strength Maker’s, and lets the whiskey age for a little more than two months in its cool limestone cellars.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
When introduced into another cell, the gene produces a protein that inserts into the cell membrane.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of inserts

Verb

That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.

— Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of licks

Verb

Plaintiff Burlap & Barrel, for example, sources spices from across the globe, including from countries like Vietnam, Guatemala, Tanzania, Turkey and France—all of which have very different economies and workforce conditions.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
The design detail spices up standard summer uniforms by adding texture and a more exciting, intentional feel to, say, a denim-shorts-and-white-T-shirt look.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 13 June 2026

Definition of spices

Verb

The live feed loads much faster in the Birdbuddy app thanks to a new instant wake-up feature.

— Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026
These improvements are intended to help military forces transport larger loads more efficiently and support operational demands across a range of environments.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of loads

Noun

Anyone who works with multiple monitors knows the pain of having cables cluttered chaotically around their desk.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2026
Six active cables currently cross through the contested Strait of Hormuz, linking the Middle East to Europe, Africa and Asia, with two more cables having segments under construction in the region.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026