1
as in routes
the direction along which something or someone moves
try to stay out of the path of the golf balls while playing I tripped over a rock directly in my path
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in trails
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps
a path worn through the library lawn by too many people walking over it
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in roads
an established course for traveling from one place to another
the path along which ancient traders traveled from Europe to China was known as the Silk Road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paths
This signature Aayush hydrothermal experience blends contrast pools, saunas, reflexology paths, and salt rooms into a restorative circuit.
—
Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Manhattan’s urban grid disappears among the winding paths and dense foliage of Central Park.
—Katie James Watkinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
The two crossed paths as coaches in Seattle for a year, then reunited in Atlanta, when Quinn brought him on his staff as his linebackers coach.
—Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The resulting vacuum creates the potential for wildly divergent paths in the meta arc of the show.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Both paths risk armed conflict of varying severity, with wide-ranging consequences for the country’s future stability.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Regardless of our paths — whether that meant escaping war in Ethiopia or being the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors — many of us labor under the belief that this work requires us to commit to the ideals of this nation and not the indignation and nightmare of the insurrection.
—Sarah Ghermay, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
In an era defined by economic uncertainty, rising living costs, and a workforce increasingly detached from traditional career paths, Ben Hur’s perspective encourages a different way of thinking about how markets might be used.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Republicans in the House and Senate are taking wildly divergent paths on health care — setting themselves up for a possible collision.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Manhattan’s urban grid disappears among the winding paths and dense foliage of Central Park.
—Katie James Watkinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
The two crossed paths as coaches in Seattle for a year, then reunited in Atlanta, when Quinn brought him on his staff as his linebackers coach.
—Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The resulting vacuum creates the potential for wildly divergent paths in the meta arc of the show.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Both paths risk armed conflict of varying severity, with wide-ranging consequences for the country’s future stability.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Regardless of our paths — whether that meant escaping war in Ethiopia or being the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors — many of us labor under the belief that this work requires us to commit to the ideals of this nation and not the indignation and nightmare of the insurrection.
—Sarah Ghermay, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
In an era defined by economic uncertainty, rising living costs, and a workforce increasingly detached from traditional career paths, Ben Hur’s perspective encourages a different way of thinking about how markets might be used.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Republicans in the House and Senate are taking wildly divergent paths on health care — setting themselves up for a possible collision.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paths
Noun
-
As centralized authority weakens, those actors could exploit the vacuum, expanding control over territory and smuggling routes.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Apprenticeships — a combination of work experience and classroom learning — are one of the few routes to a high-paying job without a college degree or the debt that often comes with higher education.—
Claire Rafford,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For those who don't want to hike with a medical kit, this can be easily stowed in a vehicle to provide access, whether on the trails or on the road.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Endurance junkies have their pick of trails.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle begins to slide uncontrollably on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Now the roads and sidewalks are open, and life is being breathed back into both the small business community and the city, Hoiosen told the Idaho Statesman.—
Rose Evans
November 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This may seem counterintuitive, but the key is that ‘cozy’ is addressed in various ways throughout the home, not that every element is done in excess.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Because there are many different ways to make money outside of a traditional job, there are several types of 1099 forms.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His work focuses on expanding access, strengthening global engagement, and creating practical pathways that can help institutions connect with learners across borders.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Federal officials said the refugee review is part of a broader push to tighten legal immigration pathways and ensure that prior approvals granted during the Biden administration meet updated national security and public safety standards.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These resources include 10 trillion language training tokens, 500,000 robotics trajectories, 455,000 protein structures, and 100 terabytes of vehicle sensor data.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Jan. 2026
-
From her former high school English students who said my mom had transformed the trajectories of their lives.—
Lauren DePino,
CNN Money,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Parsons signed its phase-two development deal with Diriyah Company in October, to oversee work on new streets, footpaths, civic buildings, open spaces, and a series of neighborhood parks.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Dec. 2025
-
Both footpaths have been on Carlsbad’s master trails map for years.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paths. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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