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 The last active vestige of Skype is the Skype Dial Pad, which Skype subscribers and members with Skype Credits can still use to make calls to traditional telephone numbers (the Dial Pad is also incorporated into Microsoft Teams Free). ArsTechnica, 5 May 2025 In Doré and Pisan’s image, the walls of the exercise yard, extending just beyond the frame, have the ruggedness and asymmetry of a picturesque medieval structure, vestiges of Newgate’s seven-century history. Sarah C. Schaefer, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025 Madigan’s vaunted 13th Ward political operation was one of the last vestiges of the old Democratic machine at work, a system that rewarded loyal campaign workers with patronage jobs and focused on constituent services and old-fashioned door-knocking to drum up support. Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025 Its once-rich timber and cotton shipping industries gave the town a big boom during the mid 19th century, and the resulting ornate Victorian homes and grand architecture are stunning vestiges of that time. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vestige
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestige
Noun
  • Sovereigns are stuck because their tools—and their stories—are relics.
    Jules Herd, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Mao’s violent mass movement shut down schools, paralyzed the government, shattered the economy, destroyed religious and cultural relics – turmoil that only subsided after the leader’s death in 1976.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • But the Everton commission has been a unique experience because of how involved the fans have been and the weighty task of following in Leitch’s footsteps.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Fiennes follows in the footsteps of the late Donald Sutherland, who portrayed Coriolanus Snow in the series’ first four films that kicked off with The Hunger Games hitting theaters in 2012.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Much of the tour’s aesthetic traces to Lauper’s love for art, museums and eye-popping fashion; the tour boasts original collaborations with Wurtzel, Siriano, Geoffrey Mac, Brian Burke and Yayoi Kusama.
    Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 May 2025
  • Parachute Percale Sheet Set $269 $188 Parachute For subtle traces of butter yellow, try this percale set from Parachute that comes with one pillowcase, a flat sheet, and a top sheet beneath your choice of duvet.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • These materials can then be used to make new batteries, reducing the need for mining and lowering the environmental footprint of EV production.
    Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
  • This approach not only reduces bandwidth requirements but also decreases the overall energy footprint of AI systems.
    David Ly, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • In a place as old and majestic as Rome, even the mundane can contain fascinating remnants of history.
    Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025
  • While the boosters included parachutes allowing them to be recovered and reused, the fuel tank was designed to disintegrate during its atmospheric reentry along a ballistic trajectory ensuring any remnants landed in the Indian or Pacific Oceans.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vestige.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestige. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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