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trace

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noun

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as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something there didn't seem to be so much as a trace of the truth to anything he said

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in footstep
the mark or impression made by a foot followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trace distinct from other similar nouns?

The words track and vestige are common synonyms of trace. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

When could track be used to replace trace?

The synonyms track and trace are sometimes interchangeable, but track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

When might vestige be a better fit than trace?

The words vestige and trace can be used in similar contexts, but 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

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 trace
Verb
Others traced the origins of the nearly 400-square-mile ecosystem as far back as the last Ice Age. Michael Snyder, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2025 The history of that erasure is a fascinating subplot of this book, as Kennedy traces the way generations of canny American women have been denied credit and profit and glory for their brainchildren. Cindi Leive, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
Analyzing samples in a terrestrial lab might reveal biosignatures, or the traces of ancient life, that elude detection with instruments on Mars. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 8 Jan. 2025 The brunt of the storm missed Atlanta, with only trace amounts of precipitation recorded in the last 24 hours, according to National Weather Service data. NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for trace 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • He’ll ultimately be defined, though, by his ability to continue to wait for plays to develop and stay cerebral as the speed of the level around him ramps up.
    Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
  • But the greater conversation around AI in 2025 will likely be defined by balance — safely getting the best out of AI, without overselling its promise.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • An unhoused person was found dead early Thursday in the Fourth Ward during Mecklenburg County’s annual Point in Time Count that tracks the homeless population.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Cops are asking the public’s help identifying them and tracking them down.
    Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Rachel, a mother of five herself, was later found with savage injuries, stuffed into a culvert near the trail.
    Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 20 Jan. 2025
  • The trail takes hikers through the canyon with smooth marble walls.
    Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The agency then returned on Thursday, Jan. 16 and discovered the home had split and slid onto the road.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Everything, whether success or failure, becomes critical fodder for the road ahead.
    Doug Sundheim, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The most common path founders take to turn an idea into a business is bootstrapping, relying on personal savings, support from friends and family, or even credit cards.
    Holly Eve, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • This season, Kansas City went 15-2 and earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye and an easier path to the Super Bowl than Buffalo.
    Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Highland is a relic of several bygone eras: one in which burial grounds were segregated by race, but also one where cemeteries played a more active role in community and religious life.
    Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2025
  • The pure simplicity of 2-D games like Tecmo Bowl, Pac-Man, and even the raging kitchen fires within The Sims, are relics of a more facile era in gaming.
    David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Hundreds of commenters who had never met the couple thanked her for the shred of good news.
    Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The record’s new-wave ditties are an amalgamation of strange but immediately identifiable components, chimeras of ’60s pop à la Lesley Gore and the frenzied shred of a skateboarding compilation.
    Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Connections is released at midnight in your local time zone and Newsweek will be back tomorrow with another round of hints and tips.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Just like a little salt in your cake batter doesn't make your cake taste salty, a hint of sweet corn in your macaroni and cheese doesn't transform your beloved side into a dessert.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near trace

Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

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