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

Next, the Alo Aspen Lace-Up Boot, which also retails for $375, introduces a winter silhouette defined by wraparound laces, a plush, textured upper and a chunky, treaded sole. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 5 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 The heel of the shoe and its tongue tag also feature co-branding with Nigo and j-hope’s names on them and, instead of standard cotton laces, the sneakers have braided, multicolor ropes that pick up on the overall color scheme. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026 Trainers hung by their laces from telephone lines and a man with a heavily bandaged hand was eating peri-peri chicken outside the overground station. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

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 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

Transmitting power through wires generates heat, which over a long distance dramatically reduces the amount of energy arriving at the far end.

— Jasmine Garland, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026
Her telephone’s wires have come to constitute the limits of her world.

— Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of wires

Noun

Instead of channeling the Addams family through Wednesday’s braids or Morticia’s sleek, pin-straight hair, as she’s done before, Ortega opted for a ’70s ponytail that feels more in line with the trend cycle this season.

— María Diez, Glamour, 3 Nov. 2026
The details didn’t stop there, continuing into her blond wavy locks, with butterfly appliqués incorporated into two thin braids, one on each side of her head.

— Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of braids

Verb

This new design weaves the electricity-generating action of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) into the bristles themselves.

— Mike McRae, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
The fantasy film about a woman (Olivia Colman) who weaves a perfect lover (Alexander Skarsgård) out of the titular material is one of the happy box office surprises of Q4 so far.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 2 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

Ione police responded to an area along Highway 124 near Highway 88 and found a vehicle parked nearby, along with evidence that fiber-optic cables had been cut and stripped.

— Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
These stages require additional equipment, cables, and space.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026