traces 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of trace

traces

2 of 2

noun

plural of trace
1
2
3
4
5
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

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 traces
Verb
The initiative includes a retrospective exhibition that traces the evolution of beachwear and a special opening-night show that combines live music, imagery and technology to demonstrate the durability of garments and innovation in textiles. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Beth traces Prisco's Family Market history through her own family tree. — Sara MacHi, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Modern surfing traces its history to Native Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 Kondo’s interest in disaster-response robotics traces back to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. — New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026 The film traces more than 40 years of Iran’s history through Ahangarani’s personal experiences of exile and the stories of her relatives and mentors. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026 Set amid the creative ferment of Paris at a turning point in music and culture, the film traces the bond between two young artists in the years before the world knew their names. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026 Joaquín Ruano’s drama traces a relationship unfolding amid escalating tensions with Romero’s fellow guards, using violence as an ever-present pressure that exposes what the characters attempt to conceal and what can no longer be sustained. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 Notice how the arrow-head pool at the Mura Bar seamlessly traces the shape of the sandy spit beyond. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
There was also a similar threat in 2023 when election offices in California, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state received mailings that contained a white powder, some of which contained traces of the powerful opioid fentanyl, NBC reported. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 On Monday night, investigators worked into the late hours using luminol, a chemical that can reveal traces of blood not visible to the naked eye. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Old channels linger as soft depressions across the floodplain, now filled with bog vegetation in muted shades of yellow, green, and brown—living traces of flowing water long since gone. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 These deviations are due to the interaction between the helium in their atmosphere and traces of other elements, which vary between white dwarfs, depending on what material has interacted with the star over the course of its lifetime. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Earlier studies have shown that work associated with humans can leave traces in an animal’s skeleton. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026 During opening statements Tuesday, Rouse said traces of Garr's blood were found deep within the handle of a knife used in the attack. — Cbs News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 It is considered highly likely that gold jewelry purchased in Great Britain in the mid- to late 1980s contained traces of the ingots stolen from the Brink’s-Mat warehouse. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 This is the second British hotel by the brand behind the Orient Express, and although traces of those trains can be found in the doorman’s redcoats and the receptionist’s bow tie, this is not the sort of place that requires a gown for dinner. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traces
Verb
  • The nonprofit Stand Up for Stand Up posted a detailed breakdown of the data that outlines a 66% shrinkage in the SiriusXM Raw channel roster.
    — Christina Catherine Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The letter outlines 10 conditions that could help alleviate antitrust concerns.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Kevin Roose, co-host of the upcoming NPR podcast Machine Gods, formerly The New York Times' Hard Fork, tracks the handful of characters racing to make AI a commercial reality.
    — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Tracking illness in Colorado Colorado tracks flu and other respiratory illnesses year-round.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Buffalo Bayou Park is directly across the street with trails, public art, and skyline views.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The relentless rain associated with Hurricane Isaias didn’t stop some hikers from venturing onto trails and greenways in North Carolina, leading to life-threatening predicaments, officials say.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The force, which rose to a peak of about 5,000 troops over the summer, has supported arrest operations, patrolled city streets and neighborhoods, and participated in cleanup efforts.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Video from the scene obtained by CNN showed ambulances rushing through narrow streets and crowds gathered outside the school building.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Imagine that two planets orbit a star on very similar paths, but one (call it Planet 1) is just barely closer to the star than the other (Planet 2).
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In contrast, a learner that assumes the world has shape, persistent objects, agents with goals, causes that precede effects and space with paths through it only needs enough data to locate things within that structure.
    — Charles Yeomans, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The presentation positioned Zelda products almost as relics representing an ancient myth passed down through history.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Behind the reception desk, a wall of 109 wooden pigeonholes doubles as an art installation, with some compartments displaying replicas of the property's original room keys and others filled with nautical relics reflecting Naples's coastal allure.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Still, Crow—the ever-optimist, as her body of work proves—clings on to the glimmers of hope from leaders of the world who do show us the best parts of humanity.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Viewers get only glimmers of the characters’ personalities and backgrounds, but the show offers enough detail and texture to understand how Season 1 might unfold.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • That question motivated Clark to better understand aging among plants and animals and to look for hints to extend humans' lifespan.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • On Friday, Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh offered no hints about potential interest rate policy moves while attending a meeting of financial leaders in Bangkok.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Traces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traces. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster