at the root of

idiom

: the reason for (something)
Simple greed was at the root of the robbery.

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Is that at the root of this problem? NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025 Instead, let your hair air dry for 20 to 30 minutes and then use it starting at the root of your hair, brushing in a downward movement. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 2 Dec. 2025 That insularity has long been at the root of the Globes’ wackier moves. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2025 That behavior is at the root of organizational effectiveness and efficiency, but only if those words are carefully chosen and properly understood. Big Think, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for at the root of

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Cite this Entry

“At the root of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20root%20of. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.

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