root 1 of 2

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2
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
Some of your fans might be surprised to learn of your theater roots. Nigel Smith, People.com, 6 July 2025 Join cultural icon and business mogul Master P for an intimate fireside conversation on building generational wealth, creating your own lane, and staying true to your roots. Essence, 5 July 2025
Verb
Footage shared on social media shows Lucy rooting through supplies and looking chuffed. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 June 2025 But the administration's attempt to root it out has been unnecessarily chaotic. Amanda Castro hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for root
Recent Examples of Synonyms for root
Noun
  • Effective personalization doesn’t have to stretch every data source to its limit.
    Shiva Chandrashekher, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The Charlotte Hornets agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million deal with Plumlee, league sources confirmed to The Observer on Monday.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • No origin story, Gunn’s version begins with Superman having lost his first-ever battle off-camera, back in Metropolis.
    Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
  • In the eight years since Miller rose to fame and became an outsized antagonist on the American left, his Santa Monica villain origin story has been exhaustively documented, picked over and reanalyzed.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • This insight became the foundation of FabuLingua’s Magical TranslationsⓇ method.
    Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 1 July 2025
  • May is the time to invest wisely, delegate responsibly, and set the foundations of your kingdom.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • This delicious salad is packed with bold flavor thanks to smoky-spiced corn kernels and a jalapeño ranch dressing, perfectly balanced by bites of creamy avocado and crisp romaine.
    Ronny Maye, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • While bacon cooks, remove kernels from corn cobs and place in a large bowl.
    Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The event is also streaming on the PBS app, PBS.org and on PBS’ YouTube channel, which is embedded below.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
  • McGraw recently attracted attention when the show had a camera embedded with Immigration and Customs Enforcement during immigration raids in Los Angeles.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • When the handset was resting on the cradle, the line was closed.
    Larry Magid, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
  • To borrow from Walt Whitman, the Mooch is out of the cradle, endlessly rocking.
    Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • Bayern Munich have won the Champions League on six separate occasions while PSG finally got over the line this season with a stunning 5-0 win over Inter Milan that could mark the beginning of an era of dominance for the French giants.
    Darren Richman, New York Times, 5 July 2025
  • From acorn-sized beginnings to its towering oak tree proportions today, the concept of Citizenship by Investment (CIP) in the Caribbean has developed into a dependable source of foreign capital for countries.
    Jared Mccallister, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • In a realignment era when rivalries (and trophies) are forced upon fan bases, Notre Dame-Clemson has grown organically, fed by moments that would define seasons and careers.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 9 July 2025
  • And while the Texas outbreak has slowed significantly, across the country, Rivers says the U.S. is now seeing more cases on a weekly basis than in previous years.
    Maria Godoy, NPR, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Root.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/root. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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