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
Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
The chalky sweets trace their roots to 19th-century Boston, where pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine in 1847 to press sugar lozenges, which led to the founding of the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO), according to National Geographic.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
The trace amount of peanut butter filling is just short of tasteless.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Verb
On view through March 29, the exhibition traces Lynch’s lifelong dialogue between material experimentation and subconscious imagery, including a series of photographs taken in Berlin in 1999.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
The chalky sweets trace their roots to 19th-century Boston, where pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine in 1847 to press sugar lozenges, which led to the founding of the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO), according to National Geographic.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
At the base of the mountain, where most hotels and apres-ski spots are clustered, there's barely a trace.
—Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
The trace amount of peanut butter filling is just short of tasteless.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
-
What makes the current moment so striking is that the drift now appears to be reversing, cautiously and without the overexuberance that defined the post-WTO era.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Yet the defining challenges of our era do not respect borders.—
Alan H.H. Fleischmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For the last decade, wildlife biologists have been using remote cameras and scat surveys to track the movements of the fox in the southern Sierra.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
To address this, researchers used information from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, tracking healthcare professionals from midlife through older age.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the grounds, cycling and walking trails, as well as a wooden treehouse with swings and hidey-holes, will keep the older ones entertained in fair weather.—
Sarah Leigh Bannerman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
-
With over 10,000 five-star reviews at Amazon, Darn Tough Socks feature high-quality materials and exceptional cushioning for all-day comfort on the trails.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At peak periods, the lookout has drawn thousands of people a day, overwhelming narrow access roads and limited parking facilities.—
Trista Kurniawan,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Hogs never trailed in their second straight road win.—
Matt Byrne,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That gives Takaichi a clear path to deliver on her agenda over the coming years – until the next election in 2027.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
His only real path to election is as the Sandy Koufax of the 21st century.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But those relics of history paled in comparison to the ambience — and opulence — of the Forest Theater.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Duffy cast the backlash as a relic of the crack cocaine epidemic, during which smoking was the main route of administration.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Nuggets of three seasons ago finished guests off without a shred of mercy.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
-
There is not a shred of doubt that the center is used to peddle the influence of Iran’s political Islam.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There are some hints that weighted blankets can help with anxiety, chronic pain and sleep.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
At song’s end, the camera moved over to big-screen photos of the late Charlie Kirk and his widow, Erika Kirk, who is now in charge of TPUSA, followed by a fade to darkness and closing credit that still did not offer many hints where the performance was taking place.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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