root

root out

verb

Definition of ROOT

1

to destroy all traces of <a concerted effort to root out prejudice of any kind in the armed services>

Synonyms abolish, black out, blot out, cancel, clean (up), efface, eradicate, erase, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, root (out), rub out, snuff (out), stamp (out), sweep (away), wipe out

Related Words decimate, demolish, destroy, devastate, ravage; dismantle, flatten, mow (down), raze, tear down; ruin, total, waste, wreck; blast, blow up, dash, dynamite, smash; atomize, consume, devour, dissolve, fragment, powder, pulverize, shatter, splinter; doom, finish, kill, kill off, terminate, zap; cancel, cut, discard, ditch, eject, excise, expel, jettison, oust, throw out

Near Antonyms conserve, preserve, protect, save; build, construct, create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, shape; fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renew, renovate, repair, restore, revamp

2

to draw out by force or with effort <a dog rooting out a buried toy>

Synonyms corkscrew, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wrest, wring, yank

Related Words mine, pluck, remove, take (out), withdraw

Near Antonyms implant, insert, install, instill; cram, jam, ram, stuff, wedge

3

to come upon after searching, study, or effort <a journalist seeking to root out and expose corruption in the gaming industry>

Synonyms ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up

Related Words espy, sight, spot; look for, search (for or out), seek

Near Antonyms lose, mislay, misplace, misset

Antonyms miss, overlook, pass over