vestiges

Definition of vestigesnext
plural of vestige
1
as in relics
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke

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2
as in footsteps
the mark or impression made by a foot the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago

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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 vestiges By inertia, some vestiges remain of the awful weeks in 2022 when enemy forces stood at the edge of Kyiv. Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026 Here, at what may be one of the last vestiges of the true dude ranch, Saturday nights are for group cookouts, guests are encouraged to wear vests to dinner, and horses are central to the entire experience. Asonta Benetti, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026 The Front Page Highlights The president used a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to renounce the last vestiges of the liberal democratic order. Peter S. Goodman Katie Glueck Apoorva Mandavilli Michael Thomsen, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2026 Woven through the city are vestiges of that trauma and strife from years past and from days and weeks present. Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026 Roots in vestiges of Cold War anxieties (the same time period in which the Fermi Paradox emerged), tech leaders often saw a false binary of either limitless prosperity or complete societal collapse, Charbonneau argued. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026 Its grand but long-abandoned buildings — vestiges of a bygone era when the automobile was king — have been transformed into galleries and hotels. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026 In the aftermath of the Pueblos’ military victory, Po’pay led an effort to eradicate the last vestiges of Catholicism in New Mexico. Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026 Chaplin holds many vestiges of its former ownership, from an old saw mill and furnace from when Chaplin was making his films, to his footsteps, to a gigantic set of muppet eyes overlooking the soundstage room. Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestiges
Noun
  • Inside the Normal School capsule were relics related to the 1881 assassination of President Garfield, along with the 1881 Los Angeles population count, at 11,183.
    Julie Sharp, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Those army-green relics are postcard-perfect by anyone's standard.
    Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Grint’s latest film lands just as a group of young actors are following in his footsteps and may well find themselves with a similar level of privilege in a decade or so.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Close is the latest big name to appear in a Channel 4 drama, following in the recent footsteps of the likes of Gillian Anderson, Paapa Essiedu and Keeley Hawes.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Thanks to recent advances in the field of biomolecular archeology, scientists can now detect traces of molecular fingerprints on ancient artifacts.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
  • While there are still detectable traces of a classic 911’s light-front-end feeling, Theon’s builds turn into corners more securely and deliver considerably more lateral grip.
    Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The buildings look like giant warehouses, some dwarfing the footprints of factories and stadiums.
    Marc Levy, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Behind the scenes, the company cross-references user information against public records like phones and addresses, as well as personal data such as social security numbers and the maturity of digital footprints like emails.
    Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • As more and more satellite megaconstellations continue to be launched into Earth orbit, some researchers are beginning to calculate the chances that people on the surface could be struck by the incoming remnants of these spacecraft reentering the atmosphere.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Right now, the administration is collaborating closely with the remnants of the Maduro regime under the leadership of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Vestiges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestiges. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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