root 1 of 2

Definition of rootnext
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as in origin
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

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root

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word root distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of root are inception, origin, and source. While all these words mean "the point at which something begins its course or existence," root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

When would inception be a good substitute for root?

While the synonyms inception and root are close in meaning, inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since its inception

When is it sensible to use origin instead of root?

The synonyms origin and root are sometimes interchangeable, but origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being.

an investigation into the origin of baseball

Where would source be a reasonable alternative to root?

In some situations, the words source and root are roughly equivalent. However, source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

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 root
Noun
Overwatering also negatively impacts your lawn’s roots. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 June 2026 These are two local, ethnic soccer clubs, players with roots in Belarus scrumming on the home pitch of a Ukrainian club called Tryzub. Brian Mann, NPR, 25 June 2026
Verb
The premise is simple, since tedious work feels lighter with company, and the appeal is rooted in something deeper than productivity. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 But recruitment alone will not solve a problem rooted in retention, affordability and sustainability. Luis Contreras, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for root
Recent Examples of Synonyms for root
Noun
  • Under state law, any single gift — or multiple gifts from the same source that add up to $50 or more during the annual period — must be disclosed.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
  • In conversations with nearly a dozen sources close to the White House, most of whom requested anonymity to discuss private interactions, allies of the president and vice president said Trump isn’t sold on Vance as his 2028 pick.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • Although researchers have not determined their origin, many consider Cheyava Falls one of the strongest potential biosignature candidates discovered on Mars.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 June 2026
  • Its origins are uncertain, with one tale suggesting that a cook at Manzanillo’s mercado left a pot of pozole over fire and forgot it.
    Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • But even the best managers are only as good as the players on the roster, and while yes, the Mets have immense, and expensive, talent on their roster, the cracks in the foundation eventually exposed its subpar construction.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • Video on Venezuelan state television showed buildings missing facades, tilted on their foundations.
    Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • Reflective, multilayer shields will block the most heat, and ones with a thicker foam core will work much better than thin ones.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • Sperm production works best at a temperature slightly cooler than core body temperature.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • With Claude Tag, Anthropic hopes to ease some of these burdens by simplifying the product and embedding it where companies already operate day-to-day.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 June 2026
  • Now, risk is embedded in day-to-day operations.
    Laurent Charpentier, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • The club retired the cradle of Louis XIV from its badge—a symbol of Saint-Germain as a suburban town 20 kilometers outside Paris, where the kings once lived.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 June 2026
  • However, the country’s history draws parallels with Atlanta’s own identity as a cradle of civil rights activism.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • The United Nations estimates that gang violence has killed over 2,300 people in Haiti since the beginning of this year.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
  • In the beginning, use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer for the seedlings before switching to one with phosphorus and potassium after the plants have started to sprout.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The 747-800 was selected as the basis of the VC-25B, the new primary plane to serve as Air Force One in 2015, during the Barack Obama administration, as the old planes were expected to exceed their service lifetime in 2017.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • The Guardians loaded the bases with two outs in the inning but Burke induced Brayan Rocchio to pop out.
    CBS News, CBS News, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Root.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/root. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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