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trace

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noun

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as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something there didn't seem to be so much as a trace of the truth to anything he said

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in footstep
the mark or impression made by a foot followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trace distinct from other similar nouns?

The words track and vestige are common synonyms of trace. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

When could track be used to replace trace?

The synonyms track and trace are sometimes interchangeable, but track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

When might vestige be a better fit than trace?

The words vestige and trace can be used in similar contexts, but vestige applies to a tangible reminder such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

boulders that are vestiges of the last ice age

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 trace
Verb
For instance, Celia Ortiz, a resident of Cartago, Costa Rica, can trace her ancestry back to Miguel Maroto, one of the enslaved men aboard the Danish ships, according to CNN. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025 The march traces the path from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the Nazi death camps in occupied Poland, in a solemn tribute to the victims and in honor of the survivors and their liberators. Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2025
Noun
Typically, traces of THC will remain in your saliva for up to 24 hours. Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 29 Apr. 2025 Her installation of long, wide sheets of light-sensitive film, draped from the ceiling and eventually bearing traces of sunlight and heat, was one of the highlights of last year’s Whitney Biennial, part of her ongoing investigations into impermanence, inheritance, memory, and time. Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • Returning to the wuxia genre that has defined much of his illustrious career, Tsui explains his approach to this latest adaptation of the classic martial arts tale.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 May 2025
  • The pattern that defined this period—an uptick in spying during war, and then its ebbing in peacetime—poses a problem for Rogg and Lowenthal, whose accounts of the years between the Revolution and World War II are overstuffed with desultory detail.
    James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • According to FlightAware, which tracks flight delays and cancelLations, there were 37 departures from and 42 arrivals to Newark canceled as of 11 a.m. ET on Sunday.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 12 May 2025
  • Nonetheless, investors looking for attractive picks amid the ongoing volatility can track the recommendations of top Wall Street analysts, who have the expertise to select stocks with the potential to thrive despite short-term challenges.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • Despite a growing economy and tax base, the state currently spends almost $5,000 less per student than the national average and trails behind neighboring states South Carolina and Virginia.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025
  • In a news release, the National Park Service (NPS) said its rangers were notified that a man had fallen during a hike on the primitive section of the Windows Loop trail on Tuesday, May 6, adding that bystanders administered CPR before authorities arrived at the scene.
    David Chiu, People.com, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • There are at least some echoes of the ultra-hyper violent God of War, the famed video game series, and that is getting a live-action adaptation on Amazon Prime Video down the road.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • According to a police statement, a contractor hired to open a seasonal camp in the town came across the car, which was stuck on a camp road.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • Before the sun gets too powerful, go horseback riding at the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area or tackle the 5.6-mile bike path and trail at West Feliciana Sports Park.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
  • But with the Civil War, the hopes and dreams of the Declaration of Independence were put on the path to fulfillment and America’s best years were unleashed.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • Sovereigns are stuck because their tools—and their stories—are relics.
    Jules Herd, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Mao’s violent mass movement shut down schools, paralyzed the government, shattered the economy, destroyed religious and cultural relics – turmoil that only subsided after the leader’s death in 1976.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • The Stirling family expects that all video and audio footage along with every report and shred of evidence related to this deeply disturbing shooting be preserved for presentation in due course as part of the lawsuit the family will be pursuing.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 8 May 2025
  • The upshot: Not a shred of pink was seen at the Peter Rabbit themed affair.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Some designers dive right in, while others infuse just a hint.
    Lauren Jones, Southern Living, 9 May 2025
  • The opening on this one hits you with this incredibly juicy and crisp apple note mixed with a hint of blackcurrant that feels both sophisticated and playful.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

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