paths

noun

plural of path
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

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 paths His view on cross-border storytelling was shared across the panel as multilingual and multicultural filmmaking opens more paths to audiences. — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 Amenities and experiences Not an amenity forward hotel per se, no gym, spa or restaurant, but the hotel does offer bikes to explore Stanley Park nearby or the paths that go by the waterfront. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 Cell lineages follow paths through this map as development proceeds. — Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 Campaign tactics Based on their spending, the two candidates seem to be taking differing paths to Election Day. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026 Cadia Village Matthews will feature a community park with a performance stage, plus walking, running and biking paths throughout the community. — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026 As Hollywood’s traditional career paths shift under social media and AI, mentors also offer stage time and practical support for young comics navigating a fast-changing creator economy. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 There are any number of paths forward including class action lawsuits, anti-trust cases and stronger consumer protections. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 Yet just over half had been encouraged by parents or others toward traditional academic paths. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paths
  1. routes
  2. trails
  3. roads
  4. ways
  5. pathways
  6. trajectories
  7. footpaths
Noun
  • Its aim is to make rail practical for shipments that are often moved by trucks because conventional freight trains are less flexible on shorter routes.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
  • But Huang regards it as just another attractor in the landscape — albeit a potentially catastrophic one — that can be all too easily accessed by many different routes.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of routes
Noun
  • Reaching Gary Grabowske’s land requires grinding along rocky mountain trails and through gullies carved by flash floods.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Tickets start at $38 for admission to all three scare trails, with add-ons and upgrades available.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of trails
Noun
  • As the hundreds of thousands of people made their way down the narrow roads following the politician, a few rerouted into the industry event, still carrying big flags and with faces lit up with hope.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The landscape was inspired by the inland town of Ioulida, a hilltop village with cascading residential dwellings and winding paths (no car-worthy roads), and a church perched at the precipice.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of roads
Noun
  • The show is about the conglomeration of various immigrant groups and people taking advantage of one another in different ways in the Central Valley in California of that era.
    — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In some ways, beauty is particularly poised to benefit from this shift.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of ways
Noun
  • Accessibility There’s wheelchair access to the ground floor rooms & garden, with paths around the property to access the restaurant, although the gravel pathways are not ideal for wheelchairs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • As potential homebuyers in California weigh some very expensive housing options, they are often steered toward condominiums — one of the most affordable pathways to becoming a homeowner in the United States.
    — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of pathways
Noun
  • The test was conducted to verify critical hypersonic technologies, including flight trajectories, speed, guidance and control systems, and the vehicle’s ability to maneuver at low altitudes.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But much of the deleveraging framework, Condon acknowledged, assumes the underlying businesses continue to perform largely in line with their pre-transaction trajectories, making execution incredibly important.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of trajectories
Noun
  • But this one swept through Bright Angel Canyon, the site of one of the few footpaths that lead up the Gran Canyon’s North Rim.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
  • According to the National Park Service, the footpaths through the forested ridgetops of Pennsylvania are among the most popular.
    — Idra Novey, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of footpaths

Phrases Containing paths

Browse Nearby Words

pathos
paths
pathway
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Cite this Entry

“Paths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paths. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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