1
as in to define
to draw or make apparent the outline of
trace your hand onto this piece of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to track
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 trail
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 road
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 path
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 relic
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 shred
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 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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of trace
Alex Rozier, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Origins of this Greek watermelon salad recipe Chef Karatassos traces this refreshing watermelon salad back to its Mediterranean roots, where simple seasonal ingredients take center stage.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
With traces of the trap titans that paved the way, Kushington’s motivational raps filled his trapper-friendly The Streets Is Yours debut project, which arrived last March.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Verb
The distrust between lawmakers and Chaney traced back to a 2016 scandal over funding the state couldn’t account for, which went through a different state agency, Mississippi Today reported.
—Alex Rozier, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Origins of this Greek watermelon salad recipe Chef Karatassos traces this refreshing watermelon salad back to its Mediterranean roots, where simple seasonal ingredients take center stage.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
Scientists are still investigating what ultimately happened to Chrysalis' surviving core, and whether debris from the event may have left traces elsewhere in Saturn's system — such as unusual impact features on icy moons that could perhaps be detected by future spacecraft.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
With traces of the trap titans that paved the way, Kushington’s motivational raps filled his trapper-friendly The Streets Is Yours debut project, which arrived last March.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
-
Sound design—the particular timbre of a bass drum or a synth sweep—often defines the identity of a track.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
That shop, Orange County Drum & Percussion, better known as OCDP, would go on to define the look and sound of a generation of alternative rock drummers.—
Jeff Miller,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meteor showers such as the Lyrids can be tracked yearly, because the debris flying through the night sky in fiery streaks is coming from the same comet.—
Hali Smith
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Your phone already tracks this.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Under the full moon, missile trails were clearly visible across the skies of Tehran, as Iran had been launching missiles since the afternoon.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Prediction markets, for the first time, create a trail of breadcrumbs that is hard to ignore.—
Nic Puckrin,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Catcher Danny Jansen hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to bust open a close game, and the Rangers held on for an 8-5 road win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Earth catches chunks Comet from Thatcher’s debris path every year as our planet orbits the sun.—
Hali Smith
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
-
And Emma herself has work through some old feelings while also navigating a rocky path to their big day that has an implosive effect for those around them.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their choice to select a new angel from obscurity and chronicle her rise to fame may be another way to provide a fresh coat of paint to a production that runs the risk of still feeling, to some, like a relic of the pre-body positivity movement.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
And just like everyday tech users, NASA also has to upgrade its systems from time to time, and the one powering Artemis looks nothing like their relic ancestors.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Microplastics are tiny and sometimes invisible shreds of plastic that can be produced by the breakdown of plastic, the shedding of clothing fibers, manufacturing processes, and more.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than melting, the tangy, creamy pimento cheese spread, with cheese shreds still intact, created a bright counterpoint to the charred Angus beef smash burger.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The air smells damp and jungly (in the best possible way) and is sweetened with a hint of frangipani.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers are now exploring Greenland shark genetics for clues about aging, finding hints of enhanced DNA repair and cellular maintenance that could slow aging at a fundamental level.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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