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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
The 12 main galleries trace Egypt's history from prehistory through the Greco-Roman era, exploring themes of society, kingship and belief. Ayat Al-Tawy, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025 In her exhaustive chronicle, Jennings traces the long folkloric history of monk-tormenting demons. JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
However, there are a few mountain ranges where trace deposits can be found, including in Shafter, Quitman, Allamoore and Van Horn, according to the association. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025 Colleges, employers and even peers can access public digital traces. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • Millennials, typically defined as individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s, are now at a point in their lives where their generational nostalgia is front and center.
    Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The next two years will test how well Republicans can walk that line, using Mamdani to define the left without letting Newsom define himself.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This is the lowest approval rating the president has received since the pollster began tracking last month, and the highest disapproval rating.
    Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Taking a glance at global markets overnight, Asia-Pacific markets rose, tracking Wall Street gains after AMD’s third-quarter earnings beat lifted artificial intelligence stocks.
    Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Close to a million voters cast their ballots before the Democrats announced their plan, while the redistricting session took delegates off the trail during the final full week of campaigning.
    Jahd Khalil, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Lyles trails in funding for mayoral race Donovan’s campaign seemingly got a big financial boost after the tragic death of Iryna Zarutska on the Blue Line hit national headlines in early September.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Running Fence was envisioned as a fabric-laden fence that would traverse Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California to the sea, crossing roads, highways, and private property.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Vietnamese authorities have ordered mass evacuations from low-lying coastal areas in the path of Typhoon Kalmaegi, the 13th to hit Vietnam this year.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • There is no official agreement, internal or otherwise, and Republicans and Democrats Wednesday sounded no closer to a path forward.
    Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • In that moment, the bottle isn’t a relic.
    Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
  • In the years since, the battle’s decisive tactics have been closely studied, but archaeologists from the University of Glasgow and the National Trust for Scotland recently discovered an array of physical relics from the deadly conflict.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Riverside native shreds lesser defenses beyond the arc and above the break.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The shred of good news is that this might finally get Kate into the White House, since Grace Penn (Allison Janney) is looking for a VP.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Players can provide hints or hold fast but will end up pissing the duo off either way.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
  • This burgundy option brings a hint of holiday cheer while looking sophisticated.
    Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

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