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
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Recent Examples of trace
Lane Brown, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Benjamin Fanjoy / Getty Images The idea that people are entitled to be judged by a jury of their peers traces back to the Magna Carta of 1215, although the definition of peer has changed over time.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 15 May 2026
Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Featuring nearly 300 objects, this bilingual exhibition traces salsa’s path to becoming a defining sound in American music.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Verb
Clipping is hard to trace, hard to tell apart from ordinary posting, and hard to eliminate without killing off much of the engagement that these platforms have come to depend on.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Benjamin Fanjoy / Getty Images The idea that people are entitled to be judged by a jury of their peers traces back to the Magna Carta of 1215, although the definition of peer has changed over time.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 15 May 2026
Noun
Margot’s room is dark and dingy, more like a cell with its anti-suicide windows, and the mattress shows unsavory traces of what looks very much like blood.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Featuring nearly 300 objects, this bilingual exhibition traces salsa’s path to becoming a defining sound in American music.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
-
The best bits of Body of Work are defined by the ideas that don’t center Skeletrix in the frame, the half-thoughts and thorny passages that breeze past if you aren’t locked in.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
-
While World Cup organizers are heavily promoting certain songs, Herrera says many others will be vying to define the tournament this year.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The goofy quest is a Reply All trope; the pair once travelled to the Middle East to track down a hacker who tried to take over their personal computers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Elijah tried to track down the people who booked him in order to get his payment, and that’s when a dispute broke out and more shots were fired, Kirven said.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Authorities say the deadly violence happened on the popular Atlanta walking and biking trail on the 1700 block of Flagler Avenue NE, just north of the Montgomery Ferry overpass, slightly after noon.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
Easy trails lead to roaring Nugget Falls, while boardwalks along Steep Creek offer chances to spot spawning salmon and black bears.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Following that road—with as much patience as your faith allows—does.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
The backstory There's not a single traffic light on the island, only one school for kindergarten through 12th grade, and 30 miles of paved roads—many lined with towering Cook Pine trees (resembling tall Christmas trees).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
The causeway is also home to one of Miami’s most popular running paths, an 8-mile stretch with turquoise ocean views.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
As boldly charismatic as Caballero appeared on stage, his path to performing in the family circus was hardly clear-cut.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Man on a hike uncovers gold sword relic hidden under tree.—
,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
While the technique has existed for more than 1,000 years, Kira approaches it not as a relic, but as a tool that fits into everyday life.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The perpetrators of these crimes are savage animals without a shred of humanity.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
-
That's patently false and not supported by a shred of evidence.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
In fact, there’s even a hint of pre-Civ 7 here, in that the civs definitely feel most powerful during their apex age.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
-
During what was billed as the Steel Topping Out ceremony at new Nissan Stadium in November, Goodell was very complimentary of the franchise's facility, and even dropped hints that a Super Bowl could be headed to Nashville someday.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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