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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
Li also said Hesai has no way to communicate with or trace the sensors once they are shipped out, that the sensors send the data to the company using them, not to Hesai. Melissa Lee,paige Tortorelli,scott Zamost, CNBC, 7 July 2026 The mystery of why some people who carry a deadly gene variant might not have symptoms traces back a century, to when biologists were trying to understand how traits were passed from one generation to the next. Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Noun
Merging my finances with someone else’s, to my mind, would eliminate all traces of my efforts to achieve financial independence. Christina Wyman, Vogue, 28 June 2026 The roots of the restaurant trace even earlier than 1910 to Harold's great-great uncle, Uncle Joe, smoking meat in a ground pit. Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • Victor Willis, Village People’s lead singer, dies Victor Willis, lead singer of the Village People who helped define the disco movement of the 1970s, died June 30.
    Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Instead of looking only for escapements or technical innovation, Newman encourages appreciation of cases, dials, proportions, engraving, and overall design—the same qualities that define today’s most desirable independent watches.
    Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • As for the hosts, mosquitoes track people (and their blood) down by detecting carbon dioxide, body heat, sweat and body odor.
    Sharon Wu, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Weeth said bootleggers purchase fireworks from manufacturers in China and who, for a fee, package the fireworks in colorful branding, which are more difficult to track and often lack proper warnings.
    Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Scouts report back, and the rest of the colony follows the trail to your table.
    Sharon Wu, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Visitors can explore a network of scenic loop trails that wind through salt marshes and mangrove habitats, or opt for shorter, accessible paths with sweeping views over the Indian River Lagoon.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The size of the frozen zone in which crews are working to stabilize a building in Midtown Manhattan was decreased late Tuesday, but some roads remain blocked.
    Kelly McCleary, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • This can cause loss of control in extreme circumstances, especially when the road conditions aren’t prime.
    Keith Laing, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • In the episode, Monsignor Sarno — who spent 40 years working with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints — said canonization is meant to highlight an individual’s life path as an example for conscience in their specific circumstance.
    Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
  • Germany, with its robust manufacturing economy, ramped up its defense spending with a clear path to reaching the 5% target.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • Their images helped recast the factory not as a relic, but as a monumental work of beauty.
    Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
  • Peter once ruled the small principality, and the saints’ relics rest there.
    Diana Dukhanova, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Their main flaw is that the protagonists rarely display a shred of agency or activity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • The rest of the band followed his lead, particularly Green, a relentless head-banger, dropping to her knees to become one with the feedback and leaning back into beatific shred-faces.
    Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Four years later, there’s not a hint of complacency or dejection in France.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • An abundance of hints, clues and other helpful items await, not to mention a bonus Custom Wordle and plenty more.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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