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Definition of tracenext
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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
Stellarator targets continuous operation Helical Fusion traces its technical roots to decades of stellarator research in Japan. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 No illnesses have been traced back to the radish mix, and no new illnesses have been reported in the outbreak overall. Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
Fortune reported on the tactic a decade ago, when fraud accounted for roughly one in 10 cargo thefts, and food was the most attractive target, since it can be resold through unscrupulous distributors with no serial numbers to trace. Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 This month will be the seventh August in history to only record trace rainfall for the month, including 1902, 1913, 1929, 1943, 1980, 1999 and 2023. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • The trailblazing American feminist, Gloria Steinem, who died Wednesday, lived a life defined by movement in every sense of the word.
    Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The character is composed of only the broadest of strokes, thinly defined by toughness, trauma, and uncomfortable motherhood, runoff of the stew that formed characters like Ripley.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The product tracks sleep patterns and measures users’ quality of rest.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Millions of dollars invested, millions tracked In Broward, Florida’s second most-populous county, law enforcement agencies have spent over $3 million combined to build their surveillance networks.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • During the Covid pandemic, the staff voluntarily used their fallow time to repair some of the old pilgrim trails winding through the forest behind.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Tom Marchitelli blazed a unique trail in his rise to suiting mostly NFL superstars as a founder, designer and stylist for custom menswear brand Gentleman’s Playbook.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • AVs can cause safety issues, especially during inclement weather, blackouts and on roads where there's construction or unusual traffic.
    Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Thus the oceanic feeling might be the royal road to establishing a museum of affiliations, rather than the old colonialist museum of conquests.
    George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Rain chances along the storm's path remain over 60% on Wednesday, according to weather service forecasts.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Aitken is hopeful that the team’s sale will open a path to a new land deal with incoming owner Stan Kroenke.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The Paper Receipts Converting Association, a trade group of US manufacturers, pushes back against anti-receipt legislation and advocates for paper receipts as a consumer right, not a relic.
    HubSpot, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In April, a former server at Long Island Bar bought the neighborhood relic Sam’s Restaurant from Lou Migliaccio, whose relatives opened it in 1930.
    Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Some of these cabinet members have even maintained, without a shred of evidence, that Syria’s president, the former jihadist Ahmed al-Shara, is preparing to attack Israel.
    Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026
  • But Michael Sanft, Davis’ defense lawyer, argued that the prosecution had no forensics, no eyewitness and not a single shred of physical evidence placing Davis in the Cadillac with the shooter.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But the Italianate fountains at the entrance is your first hint that a resort wonderland awaits.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • While there is no water vapor, JWST has picked up hints of solid particles of crystalline water-ice.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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