Synonyms of roots

roots 1 of 2

noun

plural of root

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

• sources
• origins
• cradles
• fountains
• beginnings
• springs
• fonts
• wellsprings
• wells
• fountainheads
• seedbeds
• commencements
• geneses
• starts
• inceptions
• incipiencies
• outsets
• kickoffs
• baselines
• day ones
• thresholds
• launches
• incipiences
• nascencies
• first bases
• onsets
• ground zeros
• nascences
• dawns
• square ones
• get-goes
• mornings

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

• origins
• beginnings
• seed
• germs
• starts
• geneses
• seedbeds
• originations
• fonts
• fountainheads
• fountains
• springs
• wells
• wellsprings
• inceptions
• launches
• wellheads
• commencements
• births
• thresholds
• onsets
• dawns
• inaugurations
• creations
• incipiencies
• outsets
• mornings

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

• foundations
• bases
• bases
• cornerstones
• bedrocks
• grounds
• underpinnings
• keystones
• warps
• footings
• premises
• theories
• shores
• essences
• bottoms
• groundworks
• cores
• warp and woofs
• foci
• assumptions
• substrata
• kernels
• supports
• frameworks
• hearts
• justifications
• backbones
• beds
• infrastructures
• props
• presumptions
• buttresses
• substructures
• centers
• presuppositions
• stays
• mounts
• braces
• theses
• bulwarks
• warrants
• anchorages
• nuclei
• rationales
• touchstones
• hubs
• suppositions
• seats
• eyes
• souls
• quintessences

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

• essences
• hearts
• kernels
• cores
• points
• meats
• sums
• nuclei
• bottom lines
• themes
• nubs
• subjects
• pivots
• nets
• piths
• nubbins
• centerpieces
• meat and potatoes
• gists
• directions
• substances
• cruxes
• keynotes
• contents
• tenors
• bull's-eyes
• bodies
• courses
• drifts
• hypotheses
• theses
• propositions
• purports

roots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of root

as in embeds

to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter

rooted the post securely in the dirt

Synonyms & Similar Words

• embeds
• lodges
• beds
• places
• impacts
• implants
• entrenches
• sticks
• enroots
• puts
• ingrains
• fixes
• infuses
• drives (into)
• establishes
• beats (into)
• instills
• imbues
• settles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• roots (out)
• eliminates
• uproots
• dislodges
• removes
• eradicates
• expels
• disconnects
• ejects
• detaches
• disengages

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of roots

Noun

Matt Wood is 5’7, five inches shorter than Jackman, but that would be good enough to satisfy most fans hoping Logan goes back to his comic roots. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

However, a large number of larvae can significantly damage plants’ roots, particularly if the plant is young or already not at its healthiest. — Leah Chester-Davis, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026

Unlike many spices that come from the roots or leaves of plants, saffron comes from the flower’s stigma on the Crocus sativus plant. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Others at the meeting, however, believed the farm should return to its original agricultural roots — hay production. — Tran Chau, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

His family’s Tijuana roots reach back to his grandparents, who used to cross the border northbound to work in a La Jolla hotel. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026

An album steeped so deeply in her roots was the perfect introduction for her new audience. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026

In keeping with its sister business, Trophy Club will dig deep into its golf roots. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

Pulling the hair back at the roots creates a tightening effect, smoothing out facial features, revealing the face, and giving a fresher appearance. — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 July 2026

Verb

Instead, Nowell roots the band’s sound in the mid-’90s and keeps his vocal mannerisms as close to Bradley’s as possible. — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026

Cousteau roots his pitch in economics. — Justin Worland, Time, 28 May 2026

This is a high-spirited opening for curious neighbors and travelers alike, with a mischievous sense of fun that firmly roots guests in their destination. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

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

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