1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
he insists that insecurity is the root of all jealousy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in origins
the source from which something grows or develops
one would need to go back at least several hundred years to find the root of the entrenched hostility between the neighboring nations
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in foundations
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests
an implicit trust in the wisdom of the people is the root of democracy
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in essences
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
at root, it's a question of the proper limits, if any, of free speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in embeds
to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter
rooted the post securely in the dirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of roots
Pin Yen Tan 9 Min Ago, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
In 2017, McRae went back to her YouTube roots and uploaded a video of herself singing an original ballad.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
For best results, transplant the seedlings on an overcast day, handle their roots with care, and water deeply after planting.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
Having earned degrees in political science and history at Ohio’s Miami University, Nixon was arguably over-qualified to be a roots-rocking, hell-raising provocateur who somehow was embraced by MTV for several years and went on to become the host of several shows on Sirius XM Radio.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The roots of this fixation go back decades, as Japan slowly shifted from an economic juggernaut to a cultural superpower exporting everything from Tamagotchi toys to Pokémon to Naruto.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Margot Robbie’s current color incorporates face-framing brightness at the mid-lengths and ends of her front pieces, rather than the roots.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 4 Feb. 2026
Freed from some of the commercial pressures, creators are going back to their roots and getting weird, and perhaps building the foundation of the future of immersive content.
—Cortney Harding, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Overwatering is the most common cause of yellow ficus leaves, as soggy soil suffocates roots.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
For Pritchard, whose Stanford roots date back to 2005, the chance to return as head coach was both emotional and deeply personal.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Natural rock formations rise through the living room floor, a detail that roots the design in the hillside itself, and a full renovation of an existing home brought it in line with the style of the main house while still maintaining its own identity.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Rising seas could swallow the land that roots our identity.
—Feleti Penitala Teo, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
In a strong culture, everyone roots their daily decisions in a desire to be in it to win it; there's a sense of ownership, pride and belonging.
—Alex Brueckmann, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
As well, his longstanding appreciation of country music roots his art in respect and reverence of the genre's history.
—Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.
—Pin Yen Tan 9 Min Ago, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
In 2017, McRae went back to her YouTube roots and uploaded a video of herself singing an original ballad.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
For best results, transplant the seedlings on an overcast day, handle their roots with care, and water deeply after planting.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
Having earned degrees in political science and history at Ohio’s Miami University, Nixon was arguably over-qualified to be a roots-rocking, hell-raising provocateur who somehow was embraced by MTV for several years and went on to become the host of several shows on Sirius XM Radio.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The roots of this fixation go back decades, as Japan slowly shifted from an economic juggernaut to a cultural superpower exporting everything from Tamagotchi toys to Pokémon to Naruto.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Margot Robbie’s current color incorporates face-framing brightness at the mid-lengths and ends of her front pieces, rather than the roots.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 4 Feb. 2026
Freed from some of the commercial pressures, creators are going back to their roots and getting weird, and perhaps building the foundation of the future of immersive content.
—Cortney Harding, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Overwatering is the most common cause of yellow ficus leaves, as soggy soil suffocates roots.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Louisiana dirty rice is a tasty meat-and-rice dish that roots its flavor in aromatic Cajun seasoning and the holy trinity vegetables.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
For Pritchard, whose Stanford roots date back to 2005, the chance to return as head coach was both emotional and deeply personal.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Natural rock formations rise through the living room floor, a detail that roots the design in the hillside itself, and a full renovation of an existing home brought it in line with the style of the main house while still maintaining its own identity.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Rising seas could swallow the land that roots our identity.
—Feleti Penitala Teo, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
In a strong culture, everyone roots their daily decisions in a desire to be in it to win it; there's a sense of ownership, pride and belonging.
—Alex Brueckmann, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
As well, his longstanding appreciation of country music roots his art in respect and reverence of the genre's history.
—Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roots
Noun
-
Willingham returned from lunch, then went from his secluded office to the locked evidence room, which he was not authorized to enter, multiple sources with knowledge of the events told CNN.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
At some point, those fuel sources will be exhausted, no further energy will be naturally extracted from what remains within them, and those once-brilliant objects will fade away into darkness.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Valentine's Day pagan connections One of the most common explanations is that Valentine's Day has its origins in the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia.—
Marina Johnson,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Each lambda also contains a strange quark, or a strange antiquark in the case of an antilambda, which allows physicists to trace its origins.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In an effort to reinforce DeSantis’s campaign against CAIR and other advocates for Palestinian human rights, several Florida legislators have introduced bills that could upend the foundations of the American criminal justice system.—
Hiba Rahim,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Any reckoning with the isolation and anxiety endemic to digital life necessitates a close examination of the infrastructure of communication, making one aware of the immediate and physical foundations of interaction.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Skin care leads the conversation, alongside a growing focus on niche fragrances, refined essences and wellness treatments.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
22 Dec. 2025
-
And this year’s lineup is loaded with glow-boosting icons—from milky toners and hydrating essences to overnight masks that make your skin feel like a cloud.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Its architecture embeds intelligent agents directly into each aircraft, enabling autonomous formation control, routing, and obstacle avoidance.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Carrasco believes that the widespread implementation of a watermarking system that embeds information about the origin of a piece of media into its metadata layer could be a step toward a solution.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Married couples shared a bed, and one of their younger children might sleep with them, though infants had cradles.—
Bobbi Sutherland,
The Conversation,
19 Dec. 2025
-
In the photos, Travis can be seen down on one knee as Swift cradles his face in the sweet moment.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The paper is part of the beginnings of a small renaissance in California news publishing, inspired in part by years of internal turmoil at the Los Angeles Times.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
From those early beginnings, the event has grown into one of Central Florida’s most cherished community traditions, welcoming hundreds of neighbors, partners and volunteers each year.—
Jennifer Cook,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But Canadian superstar Connor McDavid, a three-time NHL MVP, broke America’s hearts in overtime, scoring a championship-clinching goal.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Our hearts were and are still broken.—
Hope Hunt,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Roots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roots. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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