traces 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of trace

traces

2 of 2

noun

plural of trace
1
2
3
4
5
6
as in hints
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

7
as in footsteps
the mark or impression made by a foot followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 traces
Verb
The White Pass and Yukon Route traces a Gold Rush-era railroad from Skagway into the dramatic Coast Mountains and Canada. Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026 French shoemaker Méduse traces its first soft plastic beach sandal to 1946. Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 16 Aug. 2026 The 2024 image traces different gases and their varying densities and energies, turning what looks like a colorful cosmic cloud into a record of an ongoing stellar explosion. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026 The film traces the relationships surrounding the band as their sudden rise begins testing the friendships and loyalties that helped create it. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026 The film also traces Kennedy’s redemption from a troubled past that included the Hells Angels and time in prison, while highlighting the growing threats facing manta rays and the urgency of protecting them. Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 Mural Arts traces its roots to 1984 and Philadelphia's Anti-Graffiti Network. Josh Sanders, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Light wood traces the space, which has wicker fixtures and concrete floors. Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 The union drive really traces back to February 2025, when Google removed language from its public AI Principles committing not to build AI for weapons or surveillance that violates international norms. Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
This would have further heated this already blisteringly hot plasma and left detectable traces of dark photons. Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Not every dollar of the stock’s recovery traces to the Luce, and the honest reading credits a rising market for part of it. Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Back in the sunflower field, once the drones were airborne, the soldiers packed up their equipment and drove away, leaving hardly any traces of their activity. ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 Designed for a two-year mission, Swift has been slowly falling to lower and lower altitudes over the past two decades because of interactions with traces of the extreme upper atmosphere that extend out into the realm of low-Earth orbit. CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 The cold case remained unsolved for decades until investigators analyzed old DNA traces using new methods, ultimately leading to a breakthrough. Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 As the coconut milk breaks and separates (cracks), look for traces of yellow-green oil bubbling at the edge or a slightly dark yellow-green oily film on top. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 Rock art in Australia’s Northern Territory, dated to around 20,000 years ago, was found last century to contain clear traces of human blood. Mike McRae 17, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026 The modest volumes of Sleeping Muse, or Danaïde, or Bird in Space belie an intricate and iterative labor, which in turn erased its own traces. Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traces
Verb
  • The financial penalties are wide-ranging, banning nearly all US trade with Iran, blocking Iranian government assets in the country and prohibiting foreign assistance and arms sales, the report outlines.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Longtime American soccer reporter Pablo Maurer’s story outlines a potential 20-team competition that expands the postseason field by two while also adding incentives for teams to finish higher in the table.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The story tracks a Chinese chef who moves to the Middle East to clear family debts by running a restaurant, only to see the venue become a community refuge when armed conflict breaks out across the region.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Automatic version history tracks changes for up to one year, providing access to earlier versions of the file.
    StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That means creating neighborhoods where housing is supported by transportation improvements, parks, trails, retail and preserved natural spaces from the outset.
    Justin Onorato, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Review There are sprawling meadows made for picnicking, walking trails that snake through dense forests, and a picturesque lake.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Among the changes needed on the city’s streets was the welding of more than 200 manhole covers to ensure the race cars don’t suck them up off the road.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The city feels theatrical and alive, with open-air theaters, cinemas, and a vibrant arts scene that spills into its streets.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Crow-Armstrong has been crafty on the base paths, recording 31 steals on 38 attempts.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The land, most of it operated by the Peconic Land Trust to ensure it’s never developed, ran down to the bay, and there were hiking paths running through the entire property.
    Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Enclosed by a network of 13th-century walls, the narrow streets of old York host myriad awe-inspiring relics from its pre-industrial past, perhaps the most famous being York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals anywhere.
    Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Shelving units in the garage are tightly, but neatly, packed with containers of various items, from Nike sneakers to Cold War-era relics, labeled with a description or lot number scrawled in black marker.
    Sarah Jackson Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • There are glimmers of success in almost every advanced country, including the United States, at agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, which has finally begun to modernize its woefully out-of-date technology.
    Jennifer Pahlka, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But take a closer look and the report actually provides glimmers of hope.
    TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • And given the lunar ice’s likely extreme age, Dell’Agnello says, tracing its history would offer hints about the origins of Earth’s water as well.
    Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Recently spotted with her husband Justin in Beverly Hills, the model and Rhode Founder’s all-black ensemble was perfectly accessorized with hints of white — a light cardigan tied around her waist and minimalist flip-flops on her feet.
    Christina Shepherd McGuire, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Traces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traces. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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