trances

plural of trance
as in reveries
the state of being lost in thought lulled by the sound of the train, she stared out the window in a trance, oblivious to the fact that the conductor was taking tickets

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 trances Unlike in Cutud, participants are mostly female faith healers adhering not to vows but to mystic trances and possession. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trances
Noun
  • The romantic reveries sometimes give way to things sillier and saucier.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Her adultery story initially evokes the imprisoned girl’s compensatory reveries, but over time its focus shifts.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • And amidst the momentum of reverie, there’s the line ‘Blink at the light and hope to survive,’ because daydreams in a fascist state can be scary too.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026
  • One-touch passing, feinting and ripping hard shots into a tattered net, each is super-charged by vivid daydreams of glory on the international stage.
    — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Widespread scientific consensus and decades of studies have firmly concluded there is no link between vaccines and autism.
    — Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Several preliminary assessments were done, said Susannah Campbell of BFW Engineering & Testing, including studies of the railyard’s soil, possible air pollution, and how much noise a new maintenance facility would create.
    — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • OpenAI, xAI and Microsoft unveil competing visions for increasingly automated, yet supposedly supervised, AI development.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Episode 4 begins with Stuart confined to a mental health facility, where he’s heavily medicated and quietly judged by a psychiatrist who believes his visions of alternate universes are all in his head.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • During these walking meditations my notebook starts to feel suspiciously similar to the luckless young climber’s selfie camera.
    — Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026
  • At the Miraval Slumber Party, guests explore their sleep patterns and dreams, then are guided through acupressure exercises, stretching, and meditations with singing bowls.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • May talked about her gender but also what sounded like contemplations of self-harm.
    — Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026
  • Selzer’s contemplations bring together literature, history, philosophy, medicine, and ruminations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Leslie, who led the Sparks to two WNBA championships, hopes her statue inspires young girls pursue their basketball dreams.
    — Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • However, his raging protectiveness over what might be lost — language, attire, ritual, even memory — grows more pronounced as Rio veers further into phantasmagoria by way of dreams and visions.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trances. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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