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
Tamara Hinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
But the exchange, which traces its roots back to 1698, was already a smaller contributor to the group’s revenues than its name suggests, and Schwimmer set out to turn LSEG into a leading global provider of high-value financial information.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The format exploded after TikTok user Vega posted this dance video, though the concept traces back to an animation created by TikTok user Horiandru.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
How a 2008 Track Took Over TikTok The viral moment traces back to a specific chain of creativity on the platform.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
The show’s unflinching exploration of human nature traces back to visionary British television producer Charlie Parsons.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The series traces the development of this corporate culture from the 1970s, running like a red thread through the history of the bank and showing how the unexpected end was unavoidable.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
The surge in mining activity traces back in part to a 2015 government decree creating the Orinoco Mining Arc, a vast mineral exploitation zone that sparked a gold rush reminiscent of California’s in the mid-1800s.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Alliance for Global Justice traces its roots back to efforts to raise money in the late 1970s to support socialist Sandinista revolutionaries in Nicaragua.
—Brianna Bailey, The Frontier, 24 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Today, very few traces of it remain.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
Cosmofonia explores the inaudible sounds and voices, including infrasonic vibrations, seismic noises, codes between different species, and acoustic traces of ecological collapse and survival.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
Using magnetic traces from ancient pieces of Earth’s crust, researchers found that a chunk of what is now Western Australia drifted toward the magnetic north pole over a few million years, as part of South Africa remained stationary.
—Marissa Grunes, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
Original framing remains visible, along with traces of the building’s early insulation, including layers of centuries-old newspapers still lodged within the walls.
—Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2026
The room’s furniture remains eerily static, while their bodies’ movements leave traces imprinted around the frame.
—Sammy Loren, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Although immaculately updated, traces of the past remain in the property’s 26 miles of crown moulding restored by a team from Paris.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Our choice today is laced with traces of cocoa.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Built in 1919 by two French architects, it’s stuffed full of artefacts relating to the Cham, a seafaring Vietnamese ethnic group which traces its roots back to the fourth century.
—Tamara Hinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
But the exchange, which traces its roots back to 1698, was already a smaller contributor to the group’s revenues than its name suggests, and Schwimmer set out to turn LSEG into a leading global provider of high-value financial information.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The format exploded after TikTok user Vega posted this dance video, though the concept traces back to an animation created by TikTok user Horiandru.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
How a 2008 Track Took Over TikTok The viral moment traces back to a specific chain of creativity on the platform.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
The show’s unflinching exploration of human nature traces back to visionary British television producer Charlie Parsons.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The series traces the development of this corporate culture from the 1970s, running like a red thread through the history of the bank and showing how the unexpected end was unavoidable.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
The surge in mining activity traces back in part to a 2015 government decree creating the Orinoco Mining Arc, a vast mineral exploitation zone that sparked a gold rush reminiscent of California’s in the mid-1800s.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Alliance for Global Justice traces its roots back to efforts to raise money in the late 1970s to support socialist Sandinista revolutionaries in Nicaragua.
—Brianna Bailey, The Frontier, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
Even factory resets may leave traces of data, so some recyclers will go as far as shredding a device's hard drive — and verify it's been destroyed.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Today, very few traces of it remain.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
Cosmofonia explores the inaudible sounds and voices, including infrasonic vibrations, seismic noises, codes between different species, and acoustic traces of ecological collapse and survival.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
Using magnetic traces from ancient pieces of Earth’s crust, researchers found that a chunk of what is now Western Australia drifted toward the magnetic north pole over a few million years, as part of South Africa remained stationary.
—Marissa Grunes, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
Original framing remains visible, along with traces of the building’s early insulation, including layers of centuries-old newspapers still lodged within the walls.
—Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2026
The room’s furniture remains eerily static, while their bodies’ movements leave traces imprinted around the frame.
—Sammy Loren, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Although immaculately updated, traces of the past remain in the property’s 26 miles of crown moulding restored by a team from Paris.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Our choice today is laced with traces of cocoa.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traces
Verb
-
Mahan’s plan also outlines a framework for evaluating and enforcing accountability, borrowing certain ideas from policies adopted in other states.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The legislative blueprint outlines a half-dozen guiding principles for lawmakers, focusing on protecting children, preventing electricity costs from surging, respecting intellectual property rights, preventing censorship and educating Americans on using the technology.—
Matthew Daly,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pop Mart tracks sales and social media data closely.—
Elaine Yu,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
And the position manages allotments and the facilities’ budget, tracks expenditures, invoices, accounts payable and receivables, lease structures and lease management, and matters related to program needs.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
From Sirena, your guide will lead you along trails through the secondary forest, tailoring the route to get a glimpse of the wildlife.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Others got their hands dirty by planting trees, painting murals or picking up trash along park trails.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In a post on X earlier that day, LAPD said protesters along Alameda Street between Aliso and Temple streets had been warned multiple times by federal authorities not to attempt to tear down a gate or throw objects.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
But the new driverless Ubers won’t be on Miami streets immediately.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many states treat these bikes like motorcycles, so they’re not allowed on sidewalks or paths, but in some states there are no specific rules for the ultra-fast bikes.—
Sarah Raza,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Boston bats erased themselves from the base paths inning after inning.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These virtues are not irrelevant relics.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Those decisions suggest some automakers are starting to treat physical controls not as outdated relics but as useful tools.—
Chris Teague,
AJC.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following three straight 100-loss seasons that led to a front-office house cleaning, Rockies fans are peering down the road for glimmers of hope.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The surface of the bay glimmers all the way to the islands on the ethereal horizon.—
Stephanie Rafanelli,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers are now exploring Greenland shark genetics for clues about aging, finding hints of enhanced DNA repair and cellular maintenance that could slow aging at a fundamental level.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers exploring Greenland shark genetics have found hints of enhanced DNA repair and cellular maintenance that could slow aging at a fundamental level.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Traces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traces. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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