root 1 of 2

1
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

2 of 2

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
Warm hard wax is applied, then removed quickly to remove hair from the root. Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 25 June 2025 The moisture that has already been absorbed by the soil will pull the additional water down more quickly to the roots. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 25 June 2025
Verb
As a former president of the L.A. Chelsea Blues, an official chapter of the Chelsea FC supporters in England, Lee would have never imagined getting to see her club play a competitive match in the U.S. without rooting her head off. Josh Gross, Oc Register, 15 June 2025 The conclusions the film comes to are rooted, at least nominally, in catharsis, but this is far more often expressed in dialogue than through behavior, or tangible emotional transformation. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for root
Recent Examples of Synonyms for root
Noun
  • Lam aims to meet Trump to help finalize an agreement, the sources said, asking not to be identified as the trip isn't finalized yet.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 June 2025
  • At this point, the aircraft have no additional orders, sources said.
    Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • The act’s origin dates to 1994 in Little Rock, Ark.
    Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 27 June 2025
  • Enthralling and sleekly devious, this book is also a lyrical reflection on both the origin and the fate of our species.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The brand consistently delivers effective skincare at an approachable price, and its skin tint combines foundation and mineral SPF 40 into one multitasking base layer to create a lightweight no-brainer for beach vacations.
    Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025
  • Those two periods in her life, happening at an age when one is open to major growth and evolution, intertwined into building the foundation for Rosemary’s wine career.
    Cathrine Todd, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • Fleck suggested first finding that kernel of truth in what the other person is saying or doing.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • For decades the jewelry house Tane México 1942 has translated its Mexican heritage and identity into silver, drawing inspiration from items as diverse as kernels of corn, Oaxacan needlework and even Frida Kahlo’s signature braids.
    Janelle Conaway, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Beneath the surface of its superlatives lies depth — thoughtful nods to heritage, reinterpretations of tradition and layers of cultural meaning embedded in contemporary forms.
    Natasha Amar, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • His radio crackled with English voices; Estonian soldiers communicate in English, for the benefit of the British soldiers embedded in their brigade, but also as a training measure for a wider conflict, when units from dozens of NATO militaries would presumably be in the fight.
    Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • There’s also a separate accessory cradle to hold the combination and crevice tools, pet tool, flexible tool, and dust bags.
    Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The president was undeterred, and the flights resumed the very next day, filled with cardboard file boxes that had been repurposed into makeshift cradles.
    Jim Axelrod June 9, CBS News, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • Bulls will point to yesterday’s event as just the beginning of an exciting path of growth.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 June 2025
  • He’s been trying really from the beginning to bring the 10 Black mob families together.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Kavanaugh also noted that the Administrative Procedures Act remains an avenue for plaintiffs to bring challenges to presidential policies on a nationwide basis.
    Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 27 June 2025
  • As technology continues to rapidly advance and new tools are released on a consistent basis, determining how to best tackle cybersecurity threats and a lack of regulations for AI use is essential to keeping sensitive information and valuable IP safe for the long term.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Root.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/root. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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