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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of trace
Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
The lineage of these hybrids traces back to Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, a discovery that still puzzles scientists today.
—ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
There were no footprints leading in and out of the buildings, though with the storm’s intensity any trace of them would have been snowed under within minutes.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Verb
Instead, the film proceeds in a sober procedural register, tracing the women’s legal fight to clear their names.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
The lineage of these hybrids traces back to Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, a discovery that still puzzles scientists today.
—ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
No trace, no proof of life, and all the while, the nation is informed of every twist of what mostly is not happening.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
There were no footprints leading in and out of the buildings, though with the storm’s intensity any trace of them would have been snowed under within minutes.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
-
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy approached bags with the same consideration that defined the rest of her wardrobe.—
Julia Rabinowitsch,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
-
While emotional awareness is a strength, kids also need guidance so feelings and diagnoses inform them, not define them.—
Beth Ann Mayer,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One item seen in the doorbell camera footage that investigators may have tracked down is the suspect's black gloves.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Nicolle Fefferman, co-founder of Parents Supporting Teachers — an online community of roughly 30,000 people — said families have been closely tracking the district’s budget discussions for the past two years but still lack clarity.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On the 002, a trail runner tailored to ground feel, wavy lines from previous iterations carry extra relevance now, and a gum sole unit provides a stark contrast.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Stay safe on wintry roads with these valuable winter driving tips from the NWS, and reduce the risk of accidents during challenging weather conditions.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
There is a road closure on I-70 from I-435/Exit 8 to Blue Ridge Cut Off/Exit 9.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Tateishi found his path to activism in the 1970s, as anger swelled among young former detainees about their imprisonment, which the government had yet to acknowledge as an injustice.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But the path to income-tax repeal could actually be even simpler, by using surplus revenue to automatically reduce it over time.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With gold prices climbing well past the $5,000 per ounce mark in late January before moderating slightly over the last few weeks, even the investors who once dismissed gold as a relic of another era are now taking a much closer look.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But those relics of history paled in comparison to the ambience — and opulence — of the Forest Theater.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Here’s a guy who dominates on the field every Sunday talking openly about love, poetry and the person who inspires him most, without a shred of self-consciousness.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
-
But the detective on his tail (Motsi Tekateka) never confronts him with a shred of evidence.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fans are buzzing about an Act III album release date, every potential hint will be fully examined—and that includes her nails!—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Their hardware not only adds a hint of shine to the monochromatic outfit but also keeps the outfit fresh and unexpected.—
Shelby Comroe,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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