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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Many vestiges of the ship’s seafaring past remain intact, however, from a claustrophobia-inducing propeller shaft to six original lifeboats hanging from pulleys on either side of the vessel. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025 What's at stake is the near-term sentiment for financial markets, the longer-term path of the Fed's policy trajectory, and a not insignificant dose of trying to preserve vestiges of independence at a time when the normally sacrosanct institution is facing enormous political pressure. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025 Wild trees, vestiges of that initial boom, still grow on the island’s lush hillsides. Rebecca L. Rhoades, Saveur, 20 Aug. 2025 Odenkirk’s perpetual mask of confusion speaks both to this character’s inability to find contentment in the world and to these movies’ quaint status as the last vestiges of a once-thriving subgenre. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vestige
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestige
Noun
  • Other oddities and relics the designers say add to the vintage Halloween theme include skeleton keys, cracked teacups, magnifying glasses, and even hats that look like they've been left behind.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Though The Paper is set in an entirely new office in a different state, there are some relics from The Office days that were left behind.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Both men follow in the elder Paul’s footsteps, not always to the benefit of Republican congressional leaders trying to whip votes for must-pass legislation.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Clinton has previously passed on the chance to follow in her parents' footsteps.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Likewise, the internet has made fundraising much easier with the use of online payment methods, which are easy to set up and difficult to trace.
    Richard Frankel, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • While performance is a major part of their lives individually—Tracey becoming a chorus line dancer, the narrator becoming an assistant to a pop star—a performance element that is particularly striking here is the way Smith traces dance from past to present, from Africa through the diaspora.
    Lauren Morrow September 9, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Data concerns Most of South Korea’s 51 million residents use smartphones and have big digital footprints, which could allow Google to use the map data for other lucrative purposes, experts say.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The economic footprint and utility requirements of the centers are also unknown.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The walls are the only remnants of the old hotel site.
    Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2025
  • British archaeologists recently found the remnants of a 17th-century house where Isaac Newton’s mother lived – not far from the site of his famous apple tree.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vestige.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestige. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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