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treads 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of tread
as in walks
to go on foot to protect the fragile environment of the beach dunes, we must tread cautiously and lightly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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treads

2 of 2

noun

plural of tread
as in steps

Related Words

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 treads
Verb
Through rapid-fire verbal repartee, constant close-ups, and frantic cuts, Deramas treads a careful line between tragedy and comedy, the latter a psychological weapon against the former. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026 Speaking of the houseboat, the finale treads some familiar ground for Lewis. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026 Consider paintings like Caracalla, where the titular emperor treads a trail of rose petals; or In a Rose Garden, where a woman shakes the petals of a rose bush down on her companion; and the extravaganza of The Roses of Heliogabalus. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2026 This stone stays cool even in direct sunlight, with varied blues complementing the historic stonework and bluestone stair treads. — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 23 June 2026 The paper treads similar ground as previous research, which has noted large language models’ ability to search genomes for genes that have been sequenced after a patient was first seen in a hospital. — Jared Perlo, NBC news, 18 June 2026 In his typical spare and deliberate style, Romanian director Cristian Mungiu has crafted yet another Palme d’Or-worthy film that fearlessly treads into controversial issues in our society but pointedly doesn’t take sides. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 18 May 2026 Very much like last year, the market just treads water. — Michael Considine, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026 The battle over affordable housing runs deep in Colorado, with the state mandating higher density in recent years and, in turn, being sued by cities that claim the legislation treads on their home-rule authority. — John Aguilar, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for treads
  1. walks
  2. steps
  3. paths
  4. footsteps
  5. ruts
  6. footprints
  7. prints
  8. trails
Verb
  • Eventually, before the set is over, Beck walks away, never having noticed his ex.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • As Batiba, Slate’s borderline baby voice walks a nimble line between seductive and menacing, but Manny Jacinto is the real scene-stealer as a literal baby demon.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of walks
Noun
  • The administration has made substantive steps to begin work on a number of projects, despite the fact they are still being litigated.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Fewer steps for battery makers The approach could also help manufacturers reduce manufacturing complexity if fewer coating and lubrication stages are required.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of steps
Noun
  • Outbuildings hold two dozen bicycles for rides along Davis’ bike paths.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Reasoning paths and summaries are techniques some AI developers have used in distillation attacks, in which a model maker trains their technology on another model's outputs.
    — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of paths
Noun
  • Millions of years after a massive Tyrannosaurus rex trudged through a prehistoric mudflat, paleontologists can finally follow in its footsteps.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Anderson will walk in the footsteps of his predecessor John Galliano, who was Dior’s creative director from 1996 to 2011 and presented a cruise show in Shanghai in 2010, in tandem with a store opening and a retrospective exhibition.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of footsteps
Noun
  • Fill ruts, depressions, and holes with topsoil and either turf or plants.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Sand can fill ruts and low spots caused by foot traffic or lawn mower paths.
    — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of ruts
Noun
  • Bones show us how a dinosaur died, but footprints capture a fleeting moment of life.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, an officer who claimed to have been the first to examine the loft following the crimes testified that the dust on the floor was seemingly untouched, with no footprints or trailing skirts.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of footprints
Noun
  • The trendy yellow color was jazzed up with cheetah and zebra prints and colorful florals.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Venture into unknown territory by diving head-first into bold prints, or try new silhouettes in familiar colors instead—they’ll both go with your perfect white tee.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of prints
Noun
  • The beach is right there for swimming and paddleboarding when the surf is calm, and the trails through the dunes are manageable for kids old enough to walk them without being carried.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Exhibitions fill Yester House and the Wilson Museum, while outside you’ll find Vermont’s largest sculpture park, walking trails, and views of both the Taconic and Green Mountains.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of trails

Browse Nearby Words

treadmills
treads
treason
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Treads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/treads. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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