vestige

1
as in relic
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke

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2
as in footstep
the mark or impression made by a foot the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word vestige distinct from other similar nouns?

The words trace and track are common synonyms of vestige. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," vestige applies to a tangible reminder such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

boulders that are vestiges of the last ice age

When could trace be used to replace vestige?

In some situations, the words trace and vestige are roughly equivalent. However, trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

Where would track be a reasonable alternative to vestige?

While the synonyms track and vestige are close in meaning, track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

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 vestige The decision by the eight-woman, four man jury is sure to reverberate in the halls of power, from Chicago to the state capitol where Madigan, one of the last vestiges of the old Democratic machine built by Mayor Richard J. Daley, held sway for five decades, including nearly 40 years as speaker. Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025 In a splintered media world, there is only one true vestige of monoculture left: The Super Bowl. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025 But even when Companion simply wants to entertain you, the film keeps getting under your skin about outsourcing one of the last true vestiges of humanity to the Tech Bro Industrial Complex. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025 The last remaining vestige of excitement now falls onto which team will claim the fifth and final Champions League qualification spot. Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vestige
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestige
Noun
  • Holly Messinger, the textiles conservator at The Arabia Steamboat Museum, carefully laid out the pieces of a frock coat, an 1850’s relic recovered from the bottom of the Missouri River.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
  • In evolutionary terms, Vasuki is a relic from a vanished world — a creature forged in solitude and set loose by tectonic chaos.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The South Korean brand follows in the footsteps of MM6 Maison Margiela, Setchu, Marine Serre, Martine Rose and Grace Wales Bonner, among others, as a guest designer of the men’s trade fair.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 5 May 2025
  • The Guardian newspaper reports that Gatwa, who is currently starring as the 15th Doctor in the BBC’s long-running sci-fi drama, will follow in the footsteps of previous stars including Joanna Lumley, Nigella Lawson and Doctor Who alumna Catherine Tate.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • The forecast was also right for the evening, and there wasn’t a trace of rain before or after Lady Gaga’s show.
    Billboard Brasil, Billboard, 5 May 2025
  • But she had been provisionally suspended after testing positive for trace amounts of a performance-enhancing drug.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • This positive development must be juxtaposed against the harsh reality that behind the numbers documenting the massive expansion of the criminal justice footprint in earlier decades lie the personal stories of lives lost, families separated, and communities unnecessarily weakened.
    Stanley Richards, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Without the footprints, the unprecedented evidence of birds in the ancient ecosystem may have been lost to time: Their fragile, hollow skeletons don’t hold up well.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • What to look for: The interior may contain remnants of an earlier house built on the site in the 1890s.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 May 2025
  • Nazar, 13, is on the long road to recovery with support from UNICEF and partners after being badly injured by an explosive remnant of war in eastern Ukraine.
    Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vestige.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestige. Accessed 12 May. 2025.

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