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
Darius Johnson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Its slender stems branch out from the mother plant and form roots wherever the leaf nodes touch the soil.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026
Dumping a load of topsoil under a tree will cover the roots but contribute to tree rot and death.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
Oysters dangle on mangrove roots.
—Ryan Ballogg
updated February 26, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Keira Knightley is going back to her millennial roots—literally.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
In that speech, Jackson spoke of his roots.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Avoid planting too early or too late, as extreme cold or heat can damage roots and stress the plants.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
The swearing-in ceremony drew an array of Texas Democrats and highlighted his labor organizer roots.
—Philip Jankowski, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 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
The Jackson family wanted to make sure their patriarch, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, returned to his roots on the East Coast.
—Darius Johnson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Its slender stems branch out from the mother plant and form roots wherever the leaf nodes touch the soil.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026
Dumping a load of topsoil under a tree will cover the roots but contribute to tree rot and death.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
Oysters dangle on mangrove roots.
—Ryan Ballogg
updated February 26, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Keira Knightley is going back to her millennial roots—literally.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
In that speech, Jackson spoke of his roots.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Avoid planting too early or too late, as extreme cold or heat can damage roots and stress the plants.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
The swearing-in ceremony drew an array of Texas Democrats and highlighted his labor organizer roots.
—Philip Jankowski, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 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
-
Interim executive director David White, former NFLPA president and eventual chief strategy officer JC Tretter and American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti are on the list, two sources briefed on the matter confirmed to The Athletic.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
According to two sources, the US military is preparing for operations that could continue for several days.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Gomis, who has Bissau-Guinean and Senegalese origins, wrote and directed the film which stars a mix of actors and newcomers, leading with Katy Correa and D’Johé Kouadio as a mother-and-daughter duo.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2026
-
While the origins are still debated, the festival shows the goat’s long association with Ireland’s landscapes and community life.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Slow, sectional removal is best for large shrubs near structures to prevent damage to patios, fences, or foundations.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The Revolutionary Guard oversaw vast foundations that controlled large parts of the economy.—
Babak Dehghanpisheh,
NBC news,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Korean scalp treatments often come in lightweight, fast-absorbing liquids, essences, or refreshing tonics designed to be massaged directly into the scalp without leaving hair greasy or weighed down.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The spa uses oils and essences from the hotel's medicinal garden, while the treatment rooms are set within the former convent's nuns' cells.—
Jenn Rice,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company embeds in e-commerce payments and point-of-sale systems to show consumers the environmental impact of their purchase and offers them the option to support a local project to compensate for that impact.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Its architecture embeds intelligent agents directly into each aircraft, enabling autonomous formation control, routing, and obstacle avoidance.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lamu, Kenya Sitting in the Indian Ocean to the northeast of the Kenyan mainland, Lamu is one of the cradles of Swahili culture.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
15 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
What could be more on-brand in terms of honoring the slasher movies of yore, really, than beating a great central concept into the ground with infinite final chapters and new beginnings?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2026
-
This is a year of new beginnings, adventures and major changes.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Themed around the concept of play, it was filled with prints of dices, playing cards and board games, which added to takes on tartan and argyle patterns and the duo’s go-to motifs, such as hearts and polka dots.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The loops and patterns this pair trades in don’t exactly have hearts, or cores.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Roots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roots. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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