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
-
Both stylists say to define curls using a curl cream and a diffuser.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In response, Holland said the department didn't have any way to track appeals other than through complaints filed with the department.—
Nathan Ansell,
Arkansas Online,
16 Aug. 2025
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The percentage of adults who drink fell to 54%, the lowest rate ever recorded in the nearly 90 years Gallup has tracked the behavior.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
15 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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Join Jack Skellington, Sally, Zero and more on a stroll down a magically illuminated trail, surrounded by songs from the movie and the natural botanical beauty the gardens have to offer.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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Despite what could be an uphill road ahead, Lakenen says WNMU is here to stay.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Getting a song played and embraced by the dancers and the audiences was another way for Black artists to break through when traditional avenues and paths weren’t accessible to them.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Rooftop solar advocacy followed, saving schools money on double-digit energy cost increases while connecting students to clean energy career paths.—
Michele Drucker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 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
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Blending sweet, lemony, and earthy aromas with a hint of vanilla, this flavorful option is a great choice to share with a friend at the end of a night out.—
Emily Earlenbaugh,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Ambivalence means a look of cool, ironic detachment which would doubtless work very well in that away strip; lime green with a hint of no f***s given.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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