1
as in traces
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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Recent Examples of vestiges
Crafted nearly a century ago, the home is filled with eye-catching vestiges of the past alongside modern upgrades.
—
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
The tracks, gun-barrel straight, are some of the only working vestiges of the Cape-to-Cairo railway, the 19th century British imperial boondoggle that aimed to tie the continent together from Egypt to South Africa.
—The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, colleges nationwide are eliminating any remaining vestiges of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and shuttering multicultural centers lest the government come after them.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 27 Aug. 2025
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
Filled with vestiges of yesteryear, the Butte historic district is one of the largest in the country.
—Janie Osborne, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
The tracks, gun-barrel straight, are some of the only working vestiges of the Cape-to-Cairo railway, the 19th century British imperial boondoggle that aimed to tie the continent together from Egypt to South Africa.
—The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, colleges nationwide are eliminating any remaining vestiges of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and shuttering multicultural centers lest the government come after them.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 27 Aug. 2025
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
Filled with vestiges of yesteryear, the Butte historic district is one of the largest in the country.
—Janie Osborne, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestiges
Noun
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Notably, no traces of the bacteria were found in the building's cooling and heating systems.—
Jackie Charniga,
Freep.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Another example is cutting-edge uses of environmental DNA, where scientists test water samples for traces of invasive organisms.—
Pam Marrone,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Aran is following in his dad’s acting footsteps Malachy and Aran have had private upbringings, but Aran chose to pursue an acting career like his father.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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But Shah didn’t want to follow in their footsteps.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These relics may contain explosives like TNT, chemical remnants, and even nuclear material.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
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While the 1972 London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution put an end to the legal dumping of unused explosive munitions in the sea, these relics now provide a rich area of study for marine biologists, offering a real-world look at how animals adapt to habitat disturbances.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Now, in addition to poring over manifestos and digital footprints, investigators are using these messages found on ammunition and firearms as clues for intention, as illustrated in the Dallas ICE facility incident when investigators were piecing together a possible motive for the attack.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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Also, a search at the scene turned up yellow markings, possibly footprints, in the alley.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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It's been a year since the remnants of Hurricane Helene walloped eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina with devastating and deadly flooding, and forcing most rafting companies to cease operations.—
Rolando Arrieta,
NPR,
29 Sep. 2025
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Rolsky agrees with many others that these PVA remnants are too dissolved to define them as microplastics—but for him, that’s precisely the problem.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If dogs are our servants, cats are our shadows.—
Rebecca van Laer
September 30,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
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The shadows will make things difficult, as could the wind.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vestiges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestiges. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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