trances

plural of trance
as in reveries
the state of being lost in thought lulled by the sound of the train, she stared out the window in a trance, oblivious to the fact that the conductor was taking tickets

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 trances Unlike in Cutud, participants are mostly female faith healers adhering not to vows but to mystic trances and possession. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trances
Noun
  • These rosy reveries gradually darken as Wilde remembers succumbing to hedonism, deceit, debt, and disgrace.
    — Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The romantic reveries sometimes give way to things sillier and saucier.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Walking through prewar Berlin, taking in its historic architecture, Susanna daydreams of her native New York, an ever-changing city where buildings are torn down and rebuilt in the blink of an eye.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And amidst the momentum of reverie, there’s the line ‘Blink at the light and hope to survive,’ because daydreams in a fascist state can be scary too.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • In an analysis of data from 130 studies involving more than 275,000 people around the globe, most character strengths were associated with greater mental health.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • First, is the human superior colliculus organized the way animal studies suggest, with vision concentrated in its upper layers and touch in its deeper layers?
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The candidates offer sharply different visions for the rainforest.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • How these dueling visions of research in America play out will in some ways be shaped by the outcomes of the next few elections.
    — Megan Molteni, STAT, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • During these walking meditations my notebook starts to feel suspiciously similar to the luckless young climber’s selfie camera.
    — Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026
  • At the Miraval Slumber Party, guests explore their sleep patterns and dreams, then are guided through acupressure exercises, stretching, and meditations with singing bowls.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • May talked about her gender but also what sounded like contemplations of self-harm.
    — Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026
  • Selzer’s contemplations bring together literature, history, philosophy, medicine, and ruminations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • That’s what dreams and a very specific LG laptop are made of.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • For now, this perfect mix of burgeoning youth and senior leadership has come together to create an incredibly deep team with big dreams.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trances. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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