1
as in relics
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 footsteps
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vestiges
By inertia, some vestiges remain of the awful weeks in 2022 when enemy forces stood at the edge of Kyiv.
—
Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Here, at what may be one of the last vestiges of the true dude ranch, Saturday nights are for group cookouts, guests are encouraged to wear vests to dinner, and horses are central to the entire experience.
—Asonta Benetti, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
The Front Page Highlights The president used a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to renounce the last vestiges of the liberal democratic order.
—Peter S. Goodman Katie Glueck Apoorva Mandavilli Michael Thomsen, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2026
Woven through the city are vestiges of that trauma and strife from years past and from days and weeks present.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
Roots in vestiges of Cold War anxieties (the same time period in which the Fermi Paradox emerged), tech leaders often saw a false binary of either limitless prosperity or complete societal collapse, Charbonneau argued.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Its grand but long-abandoned buildings — vestiges of a bygone era when the automobile was king — have been transformed into galleries and hotels.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In the aftermath of the Pueblos’ military victory, Po’pay led an effort to eradicate the last vestiges of Catholicism in New Mexico.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Chaplin holds many vestiges of its former ownership, from an old saw mill and furnace from when Chaplin was making his films, to his footsteps, to a gigantic set of muppet eyes overlooking the soundstage room.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Here, at what may be one of the last vestiges of the true dude ranch, Saturday nights are for group cookouts, guests are encouraged to wear vests to dinner, and horses are central to the entire experience.
—Asonta Benetti, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
The Front Page Highlights The president used a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to renounce the last vestiges of the liberal democratic order.
—Peter S. Goodman Katie Glueck Apoorva Mandavilli Michael Thomsen, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2026
Woven through the city are vestiges of that trauma and strife from years past and from days and weeks present.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
Roots in vestiges of Cold War anxieties (the same time period in which the Fermi Paradox emerged), tech leaders often saw a false binary of either limitless prosperity or complete societal collapse, Charbonneau argued.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Its grand but long-abandoned buildings — vestiges of a bygone era when the automobile was king — have been transformed into galleries and hotels.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In the aftermath of the Pueblos’ military victory, Po’pay led an effort to eradicate the last vestiges of Catholicism in New Mexico.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Chaplin holds many vestiges of its former ownership, from an old saw mill and furnace from when Chaplin was making his films, to his footsteps, to a gigantic set of muppet eyes overlooking the soundstage room.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestiges
Noun
-
But those relics of history paled in comparison to the ambience — and opulence — of the Forest Theater.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Their professional norms – editorial gatekeeping, standards for sourcing, verification of facts – are not bureaucratic relics.—
Charles Edward Gehrke,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In September 2025, Astin followed in the footsteps of his mom, Patty Duke, when he was elected the National President of SAG-AFTRA.—
Sarah Weldon,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
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Martinez is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Mark, who placed fourth in the 144-pound weight class at the Class 2A state meet for Deerfield in 2024.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Containers that have traces of food and are left at room temperature will quickly develop mold spores.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The following day, Nanos confirmed that her disappearance was being investigated as a crime and revealed that traces of Nancy's blood had been discovered on her porch.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There were no footprints leading in and out of the buildings, though with the storm’s intensity any trace of them would have been snowed under within minutes.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Apparently there weren’t even footprints at the door after a recent snowfall.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As more and more satellite megaconstellations continue to be launched into Earth orbit, some researchers are beginning to calculate the chances that people on the surface could be struck by the incoming remnants of these spacecraft reentering the atmosphere.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Right now, the administration is collaborating closely with the remnants of the Maduro regime under the leadership of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vestiges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestiges. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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