1
as in to define
to draw or make apparent the outline of
trace your hand onto this piece of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to track
to go after or on the track of
police traced the burglar back to his apartment, where they discovered a ton of stolen loot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in trail
a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it
the wolf came and went without leaving a trace on the hard, dry ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
an old trace that dates back to the days of the covered wagon
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in path
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps
stay on the trace, or you'll get lost in these thick woods
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in relic
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished
a ship that appears to have vanished without a trace on the high seas
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in shred
a very small amount
doctors detected only a trace of bacteria in the blood sample but put the patient on antibiotics just in case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of trace
Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
The chalky sweets trace their roots to 19th-century Boston, where pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine in 1847 to press sugar lozenges, which led to the founding of the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO), according to National Geographic.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Microorganisms naturally require trace amounts of some rare earth elements, and researchers can adjust conditions so the microbes efficiently take them up.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Verb
On view through March 29, the exhibition traces Lynch’s lifelong dialogue between material experimentation and subconscious imagery, including a series of photographs taken in Berlin in 1999.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
The chalky sweets trace their roots to 19th-century Boston, where pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine in 1847 to press sugar lozenges, which led to the founding of the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO), according to National Geographic.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
Thanks to Michael Kor,s traces of her signature style remain iconic.
—Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Microorganisms naturally require trace amounts of some rare earth elements, and researchers can adjust conditions so the microbes efficiently take them up.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
-
What makes the current moment so striking is that the drift now appears to be reversing, cautiously and without the overexuberance that defined the post-WTO era.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Yet the defining challenges of our era do not respect borders.—
Alan H.H. Fleischmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One item seen in the doorbell camera footage that investigators may have tracked down is the suspect's black gloves.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Nicolle Fefferman, co-founder of Parents Supporting Teachers — an online community of roughly 30,000 people — said families have been closely tracking the district’s budget discussions for the past two years but still lack clarity.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the grounds, cycling and walking trails, as well as a wooden treehouse with swings and hidey-holes, will keep the older ones entertained in fair weather.—
Sarah Leigh Bannerman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
-
With over 10,000 five-star reviews at Amazon, Darn Tough Socks feature high-quality materials and exceptional cushioning for all-day comfort on the trails.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Stay safe on wintry roads with these valuable winter driving tips from the NWS, and reduce the risk of accidents during challenging weather conditions.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
There is a road closure on I-70 from I-435/Exit 8 to Blue Ridge Cut Off/Exit 9.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Tateishi found his path to activism in the 1970s, as anger swelled among young former detainees about their imprisonment, which the government had yet to acknowledge as an injustice.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But the path to income-tax repeal could actually be even simpler, by using surplus revenue to automatically reduce it over time.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But those relics of history paled in comparison to the ambience — and opulence — of the Forest Theater.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Duffy cast the backlash as a relic of the crack cocaine epidemic, during which smoking was the main route of administration.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Nuggets of three seasons ago finished guests off without a shred of mercy.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
-
There is not a shred of doubt that the center is used to peddle the influence of Iran’s political Islam.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fans are buzzing about an Act III album release date, every potential hint will be fully examined—and that includes her nails!—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Their hardware not only adds a hint of shine to the monochromatic outfit but also keeps the outfit fresh and unexpected.—
Shelby Comroe,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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