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
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Recent Examples of trace
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
Much of the blame can be traced to the industrialization of medicine with a focus on practice productivity measures and profit margins.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 Aug. 2025
New Atlas, 28 July 2025
At that woman’s home, officers found cigarette butts with traces of Soto’s DNA and a pair of woman’s underwear, according to the DA’s Office.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for trace
Verb
Named after a massive fish that traces back 136 million years ago and was once bountiful in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, the Sturgeon Moon rises each year in August.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
Much of the blame can be traced to the industrialization of medicine with a focus on practice productivity measures and profit margins.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
While copper levels vary, foods high in this trace mineral include nuts and seeds, legumes, leafy greens, liver and oysters (among other shellfish).
—New Atlas, 28 July 2025
At that woman’s home, officers found cigarette butts with traces of Soto’s DNA and a pair of woman’s underwear, according to the DA’s Office.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
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And over time a cadre of chefs have learned to use these riches in a way that distinctly defines the city’s cuisine.—
Pervaiz Shallwani,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Aug. 2025
-
In Italy, industry associations and trade unions are pressuring the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy to define a countrywide mandatory protocol and policy to ensure the luxury sector complies with fair work standards.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The shocker is a plot of earth’s temperature, obtained from ice cores and lake sediments, tracks minima and maxima of the sunspot plot at six different times between 1600 and 2000.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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To contribute to the region’s conservation efforts, join expert biologists and vets to track the elusive jaguar or monitor macaws and their nesting sites.—
Emmanuel Burgio,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Hikers dip into shady trails lined with thick brush, a favorite path being the Myakka Canopy Walkway, which offers a rare peek into the ecosystems—both minuscule and massive—within the swampy marshland.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
12 Aug. 2025
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The Perseids and other annual meteor showers occur at the same time every year because Earth intersects with these debris trails at predictable spots along its orbit.—
Clara Moskowitz,
Scientific American,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And because of the powertrain’s development, the engineers on the Formula E team can now feed data back to the road car programme in Nissan’s Japan headquarters.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The road reconstruction allows SR 37 drivers to advance a signal-free trip from 116th Street to 146th, and removes stoplights on the cross streets.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But here their paths had diverged—Sunny’s to New York City, Satya’s to Rochester.—
Kiran Desai,
New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2025
-
The path is potentially clear for a Fantastic Four three-peat at next week's domestic cage match, though one film may possess the power to overtake the title.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The dates of the objects do not always match up exactly, but juxtaposing relics from both cultures, made with different raw materials and in distinctive styles, helps visitors understand what each side saw during these early encounters.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
4 Aug. 2025
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Now less alarmed and more reflective, Alaina sees the letters as relics of the house's strange past.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Lamb noodle soup at Chen’s Noodle House The shreds of lamb bring a gentle gaminess to the surprisingly subtle broth that George Chen packs with wide, floppy, hand-cut noodles at his tiny restaurant.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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To prevent the shreds from clumping, anti-caking agents like cellulose (a plant fiber made from wood pulp) and potato starch are often added, which can steal moisture from the cheese, affecting its texture.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Additionally, the long sleeves, which are also a major part of the design, evoke a hint of tastefulness.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Aug. 2025
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But some parts of the country could feel a slight hint of autumn in the air over the weekend.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
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