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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
Provide dashboards for security teams to trace why agents make specific choices. Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Dubbed FoundStock, the standard provides a clear and auditable system for tracing materials that were produced but never used. Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
His static, often distant camera has a trace of coldness to it too. Tomris Laffly, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025 Even trace amounts of milk or cashew can cause symptoms like hives, vomiting, swelling, or difficulty breathing. Annabelle Canela, Parents, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • My vision is not only to make products but to create, co-own and empower a portfolio of category-defining beauty wellness successes.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Many define empathy differently or fail to define it at all; others fail to use control groups, do not report effect sizes, or contain other errors and omissions that make the studies difficult to compare.
    Rachel Pearson, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The sheriff's office said the person ran from sight but was later tracked with dogs to a nearby trailhead.
    Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The space race between the United States and China remains contested, with their satellites taking turns tracking each other in Earth's orbit, according to latest imagery.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • To identify these tracks, the researchers manually analyzed thousands of images of the moon’s surface between 40° north and 40° south latitude, where sunlight makes the bright trails visible.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Other unbeatable autumn jaunts include the two-mile Phelps Lake Overlook route and the five-mile Flagg Canyon trail.
    Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The project aims to remove more than 1 million heavy goods vehicles from roads in the western Alps between France and Italy.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Most of them are going to come down to track position, pit strategy, executing on pit road.
    Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Since that meeting, during which allies expressed optimism of a path forward on security guarantees, no progress has materialized.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The advance gives sodium batteries a clearer path to compete with lithium.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Comets are among the most captivating wanderers of the solar system — icy relics from its earliest days that blaze across the sky with glowing tails and mysterious origins.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Investors and policymakers should brace for a world where 2% becomes a relic, not a reality.
    Bob Haber, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Its juicy pork filling is supplemented by lightly sweet vermicelli noodles and crunchy carrot shreds.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Many folks are familiar with a version of this that includes grapes, but usually the chicken is cut or chopped into more distinct pieces or shreds.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Then, during one or two moments of lightly overstepping the limit of grip, the S5’s good chassis communication enabled easy correction via a hint of counter-steer.
    Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
  • This year, the popular coffee chain is offering Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, which combines its blonde espresso with hints of apple, cinnamon, and brown sugar, all shaken together and topped with oatmilk.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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