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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of traces
Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
The serpent-slaying formula likely traces back to an old Indo-European myth.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Don Churros Gomez traces its lineage back to Yahualica, Jalisco, a region in Mexico’s highlands known for its rich soil and incredible produce, according to Nuñes-Gomez.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
The execution of the simplex algorithm from start to finish, represented geometrically, involves finding the path — from, say, the bottom vertex to the uppermost point — that involves the fewest steps or, equivalently, traces the fewest edges.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
Mineral wealth helped pave the way for Arizona’s statehood, and the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, traces that history.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
This problem traces back to Payton.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
When the moon's path once again traces a circle, the tidal pull will no longer be capable of melting ice, and the nascent ocean scientists believe exists will slowly refreeze.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
The partnership traces its roots to 1984 when the department signed its first multimedia rights agreement to become the second collegiate property in Learfield’s sports portfolio.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Nix has pieced together two strong passing efforts to shed early traces of a sophomore slump.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Starlinks also have brought up space debris concerns, both in that more satellites raise the risk of collisions and because their reentry could leave traces of metals in Earth’s atmosphere, potentially causing pollution and affecting climate.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Their paths to property blocked by law and custom, and their literacy limited by education and expectation, their lives left fewer traces.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
For years, geologists have used biogeochemical methods — analyzing metal traces in plants and soils — to locate deposits.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
The spike in gold prices traces to additional factors beyond economic unrest, however.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
Remove all traces of the day with this cleansing oil powered by the calming centella asiatica.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
The existence of Ichkabal was only confirmed in 1996, after a local ranch owner had reported traces of stone temples to archaeologists at Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History.
—Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
The common gold or platinum thread running through his designs traces back to Brazil.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
The serpent-slaying formula likely traces back to an old Indo-European myth.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Don Churros Gomez traces its lineage back to Yahualica, Jalisco, a region in Mexico’s highlands known for its rich soil and incredible produce, according to Nuñes-Gomez.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
The execution of the simplex algorithm from start to finish, represented geometrically, involves finding the path — from, say, the bottom vertex to the uppermost point — that involves the fewest steps or, equivalently, traces the fewest edges.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
Mineral wealth helped pave the way for Arizona’s statehood, and the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, traces that history.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
This problem traces back to Payton.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
When the moon's path once again traces a circle, the tidal pull will no longer be capable of melting ice, and the nascent ocean scientists believe exists will slowly refreeze.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
The partnership traces its roots to 1984 when the department signed its first multimedia rights agreement to become the second collegiate property in Learfield’s sports portfolio.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
The post urges individuals to mask up, coordinate with others, and take steps to avoid identification – including cleaning laser pointers with alcohol, wearing gloves, and removing potential DNA traces before disposal.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Nix has pieced together two strong passing efforts to shed early traces of a sophomore slump.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Starlinks also have brought up space debris concerns, both in that more satellites raise the risk of collisions and because their reentry could leave traces of metals in Earth’s atmosphere, potentially causing pollution and affecting climate.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Their paths to property blocked by law and custom, and their literacy limited by education and expectation, their lives left fewer traces.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
For years, geologists have used biogeochemical methods — analyzing metal traces in plants and soils — to locate deposits.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
The spike in gold prices traces to additional factors beyond economic unrest, however.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
Remove all traces of the day with this cleansing oil powered by the calming centella asiatica.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
The existence of Ichkabal was only confirmed in 1996, after a local ranch owner had reported traces of stone temples to archaeologists at Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History.
—Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traces
Verb
-
The deal, expected to be signed in Egypt, outlines prisoner lists, withdrawal maps, and a timeline for releases.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Financial Affairs Committee approved the term sheet, which outlines tax incremental financing details, in March 2025.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cummings has led The Star’s efforts in creating journalism for our community and developing AI reporting tools, including one that searches court documents and another that tracks the criminal records of Kansas City firefighters.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Oct. 2025
-
My mother shared how railroad tracks in her community had white people on one side and Black people on the other.—
Kevin Powell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sofia Huerta already blazed several trails for Idaho soccer.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Women will appreciate the Keen Women's Targhee 2 Mid-height Waterproof Hiking Boot, currently massively discounted to $91 (originally $155), offering reliable traction on muddy or uneven trails.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Initially intended for the streets, the class has evolved to include off-road models in recent years, such as the best-selling Ford F-150 Raptor.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The new streets’ names not only reflected the joy of liberation but also celebrated living in dignity, equality, and without fear—names invoking hope, humanity, and freedom.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These paths don’t compete so much as coexist.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
-
While the commercial outlook for AI among business leaders was enthusiastic, there were significant pockets of concern, extending beyond safety fears, to question the frenzied paths of investment.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Significance The relics of Saint Therese traveled from France to be in the United States.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
A number of startups are actively pursuing ways to extract the most dangerous orbital objects—defunct rocket stages, dead satellites, space collision fragment clouds, and space-race relics.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
During a season when even the most successful night of the year is marred by a devastating injury to the team’s best player, there are still glimmers of hope for the Dolphins.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Baker wisely doesn’t attempt to write entirely in Austen’s wry style, but glimmers do peek through.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The tartan motif featured severe horizontal and vertical lines, creating squares and including varying shades of muted red with hints of green.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
-
As Android Authority reports, hints of Nano Banana have appeared in the code for the Google app on Android.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Traces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traces. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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