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Definition of tracenext
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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
Mauceri and McWhorter also trace the appreciation of the show, and the novel it was based on, among Harlem Renaissance figures, who saw empathy in what others saw as condescension. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Two fireballs, seen over the Czech Republic in 2013 and Australia in 2016, were traced back to objects that had been in geocentric orbits. — Andrew Jones, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
However, researchers have been unable to find a trace of BPC in the human genome, meaning it’s not made by humans, said Katrin Svensson, a peptide scientist at Stanford University. — Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 Either way, scientists anticipate finding traces of Mars on Phobos, making the samples an irresistible two-for-one that should help demystify planetary and moon formation, and perhaps even the recipe for life. — ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • The strategy defines six goals that are intended to address each of the challenges alongside corresponding objectives to guide NASA’s achievements of the goals.
    — David Zamora, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Mega-cap companies are generally defined as those with market capitalizations exceeding $200 billion.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Or consider the wearable devices that people use to track their heart rates, sleep, and other health indicators.
    — Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Scientists at the Beckman Institute have been tracking levels of plastic-softening phthalates in the blood of children since before they were born up until age 11.
    — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In January 2024, a landslide above the railroad sent soil and debris crashing onto the tracks at Mariposa Point, destroying the city’s pedestrian bridge and beach trail and temporarily interrupting rail service.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Every change was recorded in the subscription history, giving support a clear billing trail.
    — Kashif Saleem, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The rear tire plays a different role from its conventional use on roads.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The trip to Seattle began a stretch of six road games in eight weeks.
    — Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Plans also incorporate a 10-foot-wide paved side path along the school side of the corridor, providing a separated walking and biking trail.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Baltzor, and hired riders, had to hoof it through heavy smoke into the mountains to extract their cattle from the path of the fires.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • New York — Down a dim, crooked hallway inside the Jay Street Lofts, a hulking brick relic of Brooklyn’s industrial past, Naomi Mishkin is conducting a radical fashion experiment.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Few would bother to think about the two-state solution, viewing the idea as a relic from the overly optimistic 1990s.
    — Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • With every word, these leaders shed another shred of dignity.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • There’s yet to be a shred of evidence that Belichick can build and guide North Carolina’s roster into the kind of behemoth that can go on the road in the ACC, play poorly and win by double digits while barely being threatened with a loss.
    — David Ubben, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The two remain royals, but growing speculation hints that once Prince William ascends the throne, that might change.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Yet other separatist movements in Canada appear to have taken the hint.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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