ROOTS Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

roots 1 of 2

noun

plural of root

as in sources

a point or place at which something is invented or provided he insists that insecurity is the root of all jealousy

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Relevance

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

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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

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 roots

Noun

After lying dormant for over twenty years, the property has been completely renovated to make the space feel tasteful, modern, and comfortable while continuing to pay tribute to its deep archival roots. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 The color was its usual platinum shade with a touch of brown at her roots. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026 Historians trace the dish’s roots to Southern Appalachia, where its inexpensive ingredients — sausage, pan drippings, flour and milk — was enough for a filling meal among working-class communities. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026 The more complicated a polynomial is, the more ways there are to shuffle its roots without anyone noticing the difference, leading to a richness of symmetries. — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026 Tackling cancer, energy and disability, the following big ideas trace their roots to university labs, places that have afforded some of America’s brightest minds the space — and time — to pursue life-changing ideas. — Abraham Swee, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 Giridharadas may be best known these days as a progressive political commentator, but his new book, Man in the Mirror, goes back to his early roots as a narrative storyteller. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026 Legion targets contested airspace The system’s roots stretch back to Lockheed Martin’s earlier IRST work. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026 This week sees two new mystery series with literary roots, which is not necessarily to say in literature. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Verb

However, her performance soon takes on a more grounded, childlike cadence, which roots the supposedly amnesiac Margot a little too firmly within the literal, especially for a tale whose poetry lies in its uncanniness. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roots

Noun

One of the sources had said last week that reported TPLF restrictions on mobile communications may be part of a tactic to neutralize government forces' advantage in using battlefield drones, by preventing them from accessing the mobile network.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
An 18-year-old woman was bound and raped by a man inside his Queens apartment more than a year ago, and a suspect has now been arrested, police and law enforcement sources said Friday.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of sources

Noun

Also, its rolling olive oil cart, replete with its own menu describing the oils’ characteristics and origins, allows passengers to sample many.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
The author recently spoke with David Remnick on The New Yorker Radio Hour, about the origins of the Second Amendment.

— Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of origins

Noun

When finance leaders take ownership of selecting AI tools and building the process foundations that support them, adoption can make it past the experimentation phase.

— John Gronen, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Liu’s Met commission, with its disembodied hands, its severing and suturing of the organic and the mechanical, may be a metaphor for a civilization detached from its foundations and coming to its end.

— Lavender Au, ARTnews.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of foundations

Noun

Wittgenstein proposed to abandon the appeal to essences for the concept of family resemblance.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
To experience a thicker, chewier noodle, order the tsukemen (dipping-style ramen) with a broth, as dense as gravy, fusing the essences of pork, chicken and fish.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of essences

Verb

The brand embeds itself in the treatment room, too, not just on the retail shelf.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
By running a masternode, Clear Street embeds itself directly into the core consensus layer, taking on the heavy lifting of verifying transactions and steering network governance.

— Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of embeds

Noun

Soft, dynamic cushioning cradles your feet with every step while providing maximum support, providing transition assistance between launch and landing.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Egypt, one of the word’s cradles of civilization, is also a vibrant, modern country.

— Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Definition of cradles

Noun

Despite their rural beginnings, spending time in downtown Atlanta was a big part of Shyretha and Mike’s adulthood.

— Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026
The unraveling of a previous romantic relationship and the beginnings of her current love story with boyfriend and fellow country music artist Morgan Evans, inform her latest album.

— Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of beginnings

Noun

Although Turkey maintains several bases in northern Iraq for operations against the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, the Bashiqa camp is Turkey's furthest base from its border.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
His 40 steals are a career high after swiping 35 bases last year.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026