1
as in source
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 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
3
as in foundation
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 core
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 to embed
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 root
Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Gnats chewed his face and neck, a root dug into his rear, and his arms ached from holding his gun up.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2026
The result was not so amazing for Boston head coach Mazzulla, a soccer aficionado who was rooting hard for Brazil.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for root
Noun
The Band of Heathens have passed the two-decade mark as an independent roots-rock group and insist that their longevity is all due to never having a plan.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Gnats chewed his face and neck, a root dug into his rear, and his arms ached from holding his gun up.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Trim Christmas and holiday cactus if needed to keep compact; root the cuttings.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2026
The result was not so amazing for Boston head coach Mazzulla, a soccer aficionado who was rooting hard for Brazil.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for root
Recent Examples of Synonyms for root
Noun
-
Polls suggest that most people want owners to pay for their own stadiums, but sports teams are desired and beloved, a source not only of entertainment but also of civic pride.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Online personalities a source of division Though widely regarded at the conference as separate from Republicans, the conservative movement is predominantly united, Plano resident Bruce Dunn said.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Depending on the origin and destination of the cargo, price increases have seen substantial accelerations as planes have either remained grounded or taken out of service.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Dozens of amateur and professional photographers were invited to find beauty in the invisible world of force fields and subatomic particles, which blip into existence for fractions of a second and hold secrets about the origin and fate of the universe.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With roster movement already underway and a top-25 recruiting class incoming, the season that just concluded serves as a foundation rather than a finished product.—
Aaron Segal,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
And both reckon with the extent to which historical ignorance and the calculated distortion of the past threaten the foundation on which our country was built.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That included both the SLS rocket's core stage and upper stage separately at different times from Orion, which also deployed its solar arrays to draw power from the sun while reaching a high-Earth orbit about 46,000 miles high.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
According to statements from the lawmakers involved, the core issue is security.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carefully peel away parchment from bottom of cake (start from a long side where it might be embedded in the cake and pull gently to avoid tearing the cake); discard.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
These themes are not presented in a literal or didactic way but are embedded within the material and spatial experience.—
Olga Garcia-Mayoral,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Humankind is bound to become a space-faring species, expanding beyond the bounds of Mother Earth, just as it, millions of years ago, spread out of its cradle in Africa.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
According to a Chef Rotanak Ros The Cambodian celeb chef known as Chef Nak shares her recipe for an invigorating weekend in the cradle of Khmer cuisine.—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Without spoiling too much, Kane and Palk get to bond over their Kansas City roots in the beginning of the show.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The geologist Charles Lyell proposed that the very ground beneath mankind’s feet had been reshaped countless times before the beginning of human history and was even now in a state of flux.—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Alvarado loaded the bases before Guel’s hit and then added 2 runs on 2 errors by the Wildcats.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Cruises are available on a space-available basis only.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Root.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/root. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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