1
as in outlines
to draw or make apparent the outline of
trace your hand onto this piece of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in tracks
to go after or on the track of
police traced the burglar back to his apartment, where they discovered a ton of stolen loot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in trails
a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it
the wolf came and went without leaving a trace on the hard, dry ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in streets
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
an old trace that dates back to the days of the covered wagon
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in paths
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps
stay on the trace, or you'll get lost in these thick woods
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in relics
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished
a ship that appears to have vanished without a trace on the high seas
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in glimmers
a very small amount
doctors detected only a trace of bacteria in the blood sample but put the patient on antibiotics just in case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in hints
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
7
as in footsteps
the mark or impression made by a foot
followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of traces
Meg Walters, InStyle, 5 Jan. 2026
The play traces Chaudhuri’s family history from the Trail of Tears to her grandfather’s allotment in central Oklahoma.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Their relationship traces back to Denver and extended onto the international stage with Team Canada.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
The incident traces back to August when attackers accessed the university's network and quietly stole sensitive information.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Set in the Midwest during 1855, just a year after the Nebraska Territory was established, the 2014 Western film traces the journey from Nebraska to a town in Iowa.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 2 Jan. 2026
His third traces the tensions between the adult children of a patriarch, the owner of the titular complex, in 1980s India and the United States.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
The oil traces its roots to regions where avocados have been cultivated for centuries, particularly Mexico and Central America.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
The federal holiday traces back to the end of World War I.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Nov. 2025
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Now, the Avenger wreck is one focal point for scientists in a cutting-edge endeavor to understand whether traces of decades-old DNA can be preserved and detected at wreck sites.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Most of the victims had execution-style wounds, some of which were inflicted with two quick shots at very close range, leaving traces of gunpowder on the bodies.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
To that end, Lasky is sure to give plenty of attention to the unearthly, haunting, and ethereal traces that mark our world.
—Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
Odors persist, surfaces are coated, and treatment traces can accumulate in the areas where families reside and pets roam.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The tension between the two traces back to the death of Choppa’s friend King Von, who had ties to YoungBoy’s affiliate Quando Rondo.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Colleges, employers and even peers can access public digital traces.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
In the end, deputies used surveillance footage from a neighbor’s door camera, the security system inside the Stauch household, Letecia’s search history, texts from her phone and traces of Gannon's blood found in unexpected places to build their case.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
The former first lady is currently promoting her latest book The Look, which traces her sartorial journey since entering the public eye.
—Noun
Premiering May 15 in Cannes’ ACID sidebar, the France–Palestine–Iran co-production traces Farsi’s efforts to get closer to the conflict when borders made reporting impossible, and finds a singular, resilient voice in Hassona’s daily dispatches from Gaza.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for traces
Verb
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The Florida Department of Revenue exemptions page outlines eligibility requirements for these programs.—
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The current policy for ICE and DHS agents outlines very narrow acceptable reasons for an officer to fire a weapon into a moving vehicle.—
Verb
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The movie is a love letter to the 1960 French New Wave classic Breathless and tracks its filming.—
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Venezuela exported an average of 30,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba during 2025, around 50% of the island’s needs, said Jorge Piñón, a senior research fellow at the Energy Center at the University of Texas who closely tracks oil shipments to the island.—
Noun
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For those who don't want to hike with a medical kit, this can be easily stowed in a vehicle to provide access, whether on the trails or on the road.—
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Endurance junkies have their pick of trails.—
Noun
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Their midweight thickness offers enough cushion for miles of walking through the streets of New York City, without causing sweat.—
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This tragedy is the result of the administration sending federal agents onto our streets against the wishes of local law enforcement, including our respected Police Chief Brian O'Hara.—
Noun
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This signature Aayush hydrothermal experience blends contrast pools, saunas, reflexology paths, and salt rooms into a restorative circuit.—
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Manhattan’s urban grid disappears among the winding paths and dense foliage of Central Park.—
Noun
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The historic downtown is full of antique mining relics and quirky businesses.—
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The square Edelman and fellow students dug in, after determining the spot might yield interesting relics, did produce tiles, pieces of ceramic and more.—
Noun
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From there, the glimmers of a more peaceful existence — one fueled by expression, not recklessness — give Lidia hope.—
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This year, there were glimmers of affordability, with some states like Florida, Texas, and California seeing average home prices decline in 2025 from their peaks.—
Noun
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The governor-elect’s plans provide hints of how progressives elsewhere will try to tackle affordability problems.—
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No arrests have been announced, nor have police offered any hints for a motive for the killing.—
Cite this Entry
“Traces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traces. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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