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
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Radar, another technology that took hold as a result of World War II, is also a key modern forecasting tool that traces its roots back to World War II.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 27 May 2026
From Chang’e-5 samples to future lunar habitats The project traces its origins back several years.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026
Presently, Hyosung is working with Czarnikow, or CZ, to source and ship sugarcane from Brazil, and CZ’s VIVE platform traces the raw material from the plantation to the factory.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
The thread running through all of it traces back her First Tee chapter and the coaches who showed up for her.
—First Tee, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
View credits Through on-the-ground reporting, public records and archival analysis, this investigation traces the expansion of Atlanta’s surveillance network from 17 cameras in 2007 to more than 60,000 today.
—AJC.com, 22 May 2026
The Skirball Cultural Center‘s latest exhibit takes on the genesis of Punk rock in the 1970s, and traces its rise from the UK to New York and Los Angeles.
—Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
The power ballad traces its roots to the 1970s.
—Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2026
Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam not to use electronic line calling, with line judges, the chair umpire, and the players using the traces left by their shots to see whether the ball was in or out.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The first traces of jewels that can be worn multiple ways date back to August 1859, with the mention of a bracelet that can be turned into a brooch mentioned in the very first order book.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Samples are taken from locations like downstream ponds that are likely to have traces of animals on higher ground.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Measuring the whispers of light The promise of biopsy — catching microscopic traces of a tumor from a simple blood draw — has long been a logistical challenge.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
Artists like Cameron Rowland and Jumana Manna place objects shaped by invisible systems of power in galleries, inviting viewers to consider their provenance—to see the material traces that politicized systems leave on everyday life.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026
As a result, traces of Denisovan DNA live on in some humans today — something interbreeding geneticists call admixture.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Only meager traces of lunar helium-3 are present in these samples, yet these amounts still far exceed Earth’s abundance.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
Verb
Nardo’s book traces the history of architecture and artwork in ancient Greece, from its inception to pioneering artists of the era.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Radar, another technology that took hold as a result of World War II, is also a key modern forecasting tool that traces its roots back to World War II.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 27 May 2026
From Chang’e-5 samples to future lunar habitats The project traces its origins back several years.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026
Presently, Hyosung is working with Czarnikow, or CZ, to source and ship sugarcane from Brazil, and CZ’s VIVE platform traces the raw material from the plantation to the factory.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
The thread running through all of it traces back her First Tee chapter and the coaches who showed up for her.
—First Tee, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
View credits Through on-the-ground reporting, public records and archival analysis, this investigation traces the expansion of Atlanta’s surveillance network from 17 cameras in 2007 to more than 60,000 today.
—AJC.com, 22 May 2026
The Skirball Cultural Center‘s latest exhibit takes on the genesis of Punk rock in the 1970s, and traces its rise from the UK to New York and Los Angeles.
—Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
The power ballad traces its roots to the 1970s.
—Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2026
Noun
Its front-drive layout keeps the character familiar, while the electric drivetrain removes the last traces of engine vibration.
—Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam not to use electronic line calling, with line judges, the chair umpire, and the players using the traces left by their shots to see whether the ball was in or out.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The first traces of jewels that can be worn multiple ways date back to August 1859, with the mention of a bracelet that can be turned into a brooch mentioned in the very first order book.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Samples are taken from locations like downstream ponds that are likely to have traces of animals on higher ground.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Measuring the whispers of light The promise of biopsy — catching microscopic traces of a tumor from a simple blood draw — has long been a logistical challenge.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
Artists like Cameron Rowland and Jumana Manna place objects shaped by invisible systems of power in galleries, inviting viewers to consider their provenance—to see the material traces that politicized systems leave on everyday life.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026
As a result, traces of Denisovan DNA live on in some humans today — something interbreeding geneticists call admixture.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Only meager traces of lunar helium-3 are present in these samples, yet these amounts still far exceed Earth’s abundance.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traces
Verb
-
The Solana Beach City Council approved a second reading May 27 of an ordinance that outlines the types of structures that are allowed in public spaces used for outdoor dining.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
If a tie affects the outcome, state law outlines a process for determining the winner.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Across the railway tracks again, Gertrud walking next to him, Ursula and her sister trailing behind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Today, Guinness World Records tracks achievements ranging from the world's tallest living man, Sultan Kösen, to highly specific accomplishments such as identifying Taylor Swift songs in under a minute.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Kaua’i’s waves and verdant shores provide endless fun for children, including bike trails, boat tours and bodyboarding.—
Brianna Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Just an hour away, Acadia National Park has beaches, trails, and budget-friendly camping options.—
Dave Parfitt,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Paul Anthony Kelly is spotted on the streets of New York City on May 26 rocking a boat-neck navy sweater, black glasses and a big smile.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
Fast forward to the second half of the 20th century, when Capri enjoyed another boom during the golden age of la dolce vita, when Italian and international celebrities flocked to the island's winding streets.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
The two climbed to the top of the victory stand at the 106th CIF State Track & Field Championships at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium on Saturday, taking decidedly different paths.—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
-
Turang has been crafty on the base paths, recording nine steals on 11 attempts.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Once considered delightfully kitschy relics of suburban Americana, porch geese are waddling their way back into the spotlight.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
29 May 2026
-
The 700-year-old circular Bellver Castle is an architectural gem, briefly used as royal residence, mostly as a ghastly political and military prison over six centuries, and now a museum of Roman and other relics.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
While math achievement saw a rebound after the pandemic, reading continued to decline through 2024, with 2025 offering glimmers of a turnaround, the report said.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
The Melissa is a slightly wider shape for more coverage and balance on longer or wider faces, with a chunky gold hinge that glimmers in the sun.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The gold bar could be found after any clue, organizers said, with additional hints being released throughout the summer, gradually making the location of the gold easier to identify.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
The space uses deep greens, wood, bronze touches, and hints of kelp forests to create a warm and distinctive atmosphere.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Traces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traces. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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