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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
  • Traces of her Oglala Lakota mother survive in the spare federal records that track reservation residents.
    Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Western Digital’s Historical Odds Of Positive Post-Earnings Return Some insights on one-day (1D) post-earnings returns: There have been 19 earnings data points tracked over the last five years, yielding 8 positive and 11 negative one-day (1D) returns.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
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
  • Armed with a clear shot of the getaway car’s license plate, authorities found the Ford Escape two days later, set ablaze on the side of a road in Palmdale.
    Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • The advancements in hair restoration and the increasing acceptance of cosmetic procedures for all offer a path for men to take control of their appearance and well-being, with none of the shame of yesterday.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • If your career background will help guide and inform a high school grad following a similar path, offering mentorship and sharing advice and wisdom is invaluable, according to Forge.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In evolutionary terms, Vasuki is a relic from a vanished world — a creature forged in solitude and set loose by tectonic chaos.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Holly Messinger, the textiles conservator at The Arabia Steamboat Museum, carefully laid out the pieces of a frock coat, an 1850’s relic recovered from the bottom of the Missouri River.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Miss Manners can promise you that there will not be a shred of curiosity left in those formerly nosy questioners.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Every scene is a joy because every performance is perfectly pitched, and there’s not a shred of fat on Deborah Moggach’s screenplay (which received an uncredited development assist from Emma Thompson).
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Some designers dive right in, while others infuse just a hint.
    Lauren Jones, Southern Living, 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 13 May. 2025.

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