1
as in outlines
to draw or make apparent the outline of
trace your hand onto this piece of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in tracks
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 trails
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 streets
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 paths
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 relics
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 glimmers
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 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
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Recent Examples of traces
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 1 May 2026
The partnership traces its origins to April 2025, when CJ Group chair Lee Jay-hyun visited Japan and met with TBS leadership – including chair Sasaki Takashi and CEO Abe Ryujiro – to explore collaboration.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 May 2026
Paglen traces magickal attempts to mold reality back to midcentury covert operations such as the CIA’s infamous MKUltra program—the one exploring mind control through electroshock therapy, hypnosis, and LSD.
—Louis Bury, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
The National Mall and Lincoln Memorial anchor an outdoor collection of monuments, while the National Museum of African American History & Culture traces slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement and African American achievement in sports, music and government.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Start with The National Mall & Lincoln Memorial, then go deep at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, which traces slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement and Black achievement in sports, music, government and beyond.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Using animations of Eddie and talking-head interviews with famous fans including Javier Bardem, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Chuck D, and the Cure’s Simon Gallup, among others, the doc traces the group’s East London origins, galvanizing a loyal fanbase that now sees them in arenas and stadiums.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
Reportedly, their connection traces back to the 3rd Earl of Lennox, a descendant of James II of Scotland.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 29 Apr. 2026
Before the rise of Aventura, bachata — Dominican folk music of the working class, which traces its roots to the 1960s — was largely a cloistered concern.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Watson used a chemical that reacts with traces of blood, creating a bluish-purple color on the floor and counter of the bathroom.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
These digital traces are the raw material fueling the AI revolution, powering technologies that are reshaping our world.
—Alice Xiang, Time, 6 May 2026
Touching the screen leaves traces of oil behind that also attract dust particles and dirt.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
Three days later, Dancer’s Image is disqualified when traces of a painkiller are found in tests.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Whereas some actual insects use pheromones as biochemical markers (or stigmergic traces), the RAnts biomimicked version is photormones – light signals – to guide the actions of their collective.
—New Atlas, 1 May 2026
What traces do global systems—finance, supply chains—leave on objects and on people?
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
The History Behind America’s State Fair Tradition The American fair traces back to 1807, when Elkanah Watson, a banker and farmer in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, organized an exhibition to promote his sheep.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
With 40 original artifacts from the National Archives' collection, the exhibition traces what everyday life was like for British colonists, the roots of the colonists' rebellion and how the most important documents in our history are preserved and protected.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 1 May 2026
The partnership traces its origins to April 2025, when CJ Group chair Lee Jay-hyun visited Japan and met with TBS leadership – including chair Sasaki Takashi and CEO Abe Ryujiro – to explore collaboration.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 May 2026
Paglen traces magickal attempts to mold reality back to midcentury covert operations such as the CIA’s infamous MKUltra program—the one exploring mind control through electroshock therapy, hypnosis, and LSD.
—Louis Bury, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
The National Mall and Lincoln Memorial anchor an outdoor collection of monuments, while the National Museum of African American History & Culture traces slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement and African American achievement in sports, music and government.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Start with The National Mall & Lincoln Memorial, then go deep at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, which traces slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement and Black achievement in sports, music, government and beyond.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Using animations of Eddie and talking-head interviews with famous fans including Javier Bardem, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Chuck D, and the Cure’s Simon Gallup, among others, the doc traces the group’s East London origins, galvanizing a loyal fanbase that now sees them in arenas and stadiums.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
Reportedly, their connection traces back to the 3rd Earl of Lennox, a descendant of James II of Scotland.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 29 Apr. 2026
Before the rise of Aventura, bachata — Dominican folk music of the working class, which traces its roots to the 1960s — was largely a cloistered concern.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
The original Marathon address is still on one of the buildings, and there are still little traces of RKO on the west side of the lot that haven’t fully disappeared.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Watson used a chemical that reacts with traces of blood, creating a bluish-purple color on the floor and counter of the bathroom.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
These digital traces are the raw material fueling the AI revolution, powering technologies that are reshaping our world.
—Alice Xiang, Time, 6 May 2026
Touching the screen leaves traces of oil behind that also attract dust particles and dirt.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
Three days later, Dancer’s Image is disqualified when traces of a painkiller are found in tests.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Whereas some actual insects use pheromones as biochemical markers (or stigmergic traces), the RAnts biomimicked version is photormones – light signals – to guide the actions of their collective.
—New Atlas, 1 May 2026
What traces do global systems—finance, supply chains—leave on objects and on people?
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
The History Behind America’s State Fair Tradition The American fair traces back to 1807, when Elkanah Watson, a banker and farmer in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, organized an exhibition to promote his sheep.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traces
Verb
-
The regulations are part of the village’s larger process to produce a comprehensive plan that outlines zoning and applicable business uses for land development and commercial business occupancies.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
-
The agreement, which stems from a union grievance filed in November 2023, outlines the conditions under which a teacher accused of misconduct with a student, employee or adult may be reassigned.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Investors burned by that bust are still leery of pouring money into oil and gas a decade later, says Brandon Davis, founder of AFE Leaks, a consulting firm that tracks capital costs for oil and gas.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
-
Comptroller Phil Diamond — whose office tracks collection and spending of Orange County’s tourist tax, widely seen as a barometer of the health of the regional tourism market — indicated Tuesday that receipts would continue the surge that began last April.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Once complete, the 34-acre site north of College Boulevard and west of State Line Road will eventually be home to restaurants, a luxury hotel, retail space, child care facilities, connector trails to City Park, multifamily housing and additional office space.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
-
The Los Angeles City Council on Friday requested the creation of an ordinance aimed at banning electric bikes from being used on bicycle paths, equestrian and hiking trails.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Relationships are two-way streets.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Blackmon was part of a generation of Black Americans across the South who fought in courtrooms and in the streets to dismantle barriers to voting and achieve political representation in a region scarred by the legacy of slavery and its aftermath.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
With its winding paths, extensive planting, and choreographed vistas offering views of four states, Olana is a sort of Gesamtkunstwerk to which Church devoted the final decades of his career.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Many of those paths lead to warfare.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The central stupa also houses various sacred relics, including tooth relics of the Buddha obtained from Sri Lanka.—
Ethan Teekah,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
-
Investigations into the small plot of land began in February, after preliminary test digs indicated promising archaeological relics in the area.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are no easy answers in education, but there are glimmers of hope.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
-
While the storm is looming, there are new glimmers of possibility—friends can become lovers, strangers can become friends on the subway, the supermarket aisles are charged with meaning.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This desire to find connection in loss hints that death can often be more tangible to process than estrangement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After downplaying the prospect of a new album in recent interviews, Grande began posting hints to the contrary in March, like a flower emoji in her Instagram bio.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Traces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traces. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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