laces 1 of 2

plural of lace
1
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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2
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
1
2
3
4
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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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
This version of Puma’s ballet sneaker has been updated to include satin laces. Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 26 July 2026 Some place more importance on the texture than others, and some demand the laces to stick out at a distinct height. Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Nasser said what distinguishes Cosabella from its competitors in the market is the designs and the laces that are all curated in Italy. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 24 July 2026 Bending down to tie your laces can be an uncomfortable experience for those with back or knee pain. Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Not feeling constricted, for one, plus breathability and maybe the ability to slip shoes on without laces. Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026 These light-up shoes come in a variety of styles, from low-tops to high-tops and shoes with straps or laces. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 July 2026 The boot relies on a combination of stretch ripstop upper fabric, laces and centrally zippered overlay to provide a confident, foot-conforming fit. New Atlas, 14 July 2026 Offered with laces or the BOA dial, its outsole sports top-notch traction via four lug shapes. Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Verb
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 Produced by Nyal, the track laces Duque’s suave vocals and Hamilton’s sugary tones on sensual and chill Afrobeats melody. Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 30 Jan. 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
  • The bear was panting and struggling with the placement of its paws and legs on the pole — which was carrying 7,200-volt wires at 22 feet high.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
  • The shots are busy with equipment—boom mikes, bulb-flashes, wires and cables dripping like innards or snakes, the hungry Cyclopean eye of a mounted camera.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • The method proved adept at testing faithfulness for all possible braids.
    Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
  • This can be interpreted many ways, from glitter parts and rhinestone placements to artistic hairlines and cuffed bubble braids.
    Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • On its debut album, the Australian quartet weaves quietly arresting details and playful sonic touches into catchy, familiar noise-pop.
    Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
  • The rapper, who has the small role of a bard in Nolan’s cinematic retelling of the Greek epic poem, weaves together Homer’s prose with modern lyricism on the ghostly track that alludes to Odysseus’ long journey.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Luz inserts the construction pole; Susana sniffs.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • Once seated at the computer, the hacker inserts a USB drive or external hard drive.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Food stands also debuted that year, with ribs sizzling along with the blues licks.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 June 2026
  • At one point in a dinner scene, Shields' Erika licks Joey's fingers.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
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
Verb
  • The servicer knows where to attach, what loads the hook can bear and what its cameras can use as landmarks.
    Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • The robot also loads a plate into a dishwasher and adjusts a hospital-style bed.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • The latest development is hedgehog-style armor, which surrounds the vehicle with unraveled steel cables intended to snag, disrupt, or prematurely detonate incoming FPV drones.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • That comes as Verizon continues retiring its legacy copper network in favor of faster and more power-efficient fiber-optic cables for broadband services.
    Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Laces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laces. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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