source 1 of 2

1
2
as in headwater
the beginning part of a stream 19th-century explorers who sought the source of the Nile

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in reference
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information the professor asked the students to have at least five different sources for their papers

Synonyms & Similar Words

source

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word source distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of source are inception, origin, and root. While all these words mean "the point at which something begins its course or existence," source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

When is inception a more appropriate choice than source?

While in some cases nearly identical to source, 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 source?

The words origin and source are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When can root be used instead of source?

While the synonyms root and source are close in meaning, root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

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 source
Noun
Players responded well to the demands, according to a source who, like all referenced in this piece, wished to remain anonymous to protect relationships. Megan Feringa, New York Times, 16 May 2025 Toward the end of his life, his longevity became a source of embarrassment. Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Verb
Duffy said it’s gotten so bad that the agency sometimes needs to source replacement parts for ancient equipment on eBay, because they’re no longer made or sold by modern manufacturers. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 15 May 2025 Bridges is committed to sourcing interesting wines from cool producers, meaning wines made with integrity, from growing to bottling, coming from a variety of regions. Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for source
Recent Examples of Synonyms for source
Noun
  • The dramedy from director Stephen Chbosky tells the true story of the origins of Enoteca Maria, the famed Italian restaurant on Staten Island.
    Jessica Wang, EW.com, 9 May 2025
  • Pope Leo's Chicago origins and Peruvian service Born and raised in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV moved to Peru in 1985 to serve in the Augustinian mission in the area of Chulucanas.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Its main stem flows 2,350 miles from the headwaters at Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, touching 10 states and spreading out into many more with its tributaries.
    Amy Graff, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • Tree roots and fungi guide rainwater down to the water tables and create the headwaters for the rivers.
    Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The campsite’s name is a reference to the Valley Forge Lodge, which operated in the area in the early 1900s.
    Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
  • For reference, Naylor inked a one-year, $10.9 million deal in his final year of arbitration.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • This fountain is nearly identical in design to Petlibro’s Dockstream Fountain, but has a small hood to better track each pet.
    Molly Higgins, Wired News, 9 May 2025
  • Leaders were the fountains of knowledge, the ones everyone turned to when problems arose.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • Yet even in this cradle of endemic life, one region stands apart, both for its diversity and its age.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Scientists additionally found at least three planes aboard the ship, including a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber with a bomb still secured in the release cradle.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The mom believes the root of the conflict is entitlement.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 9 May 2025
  • When roots are a few inches long, pot the plant up in a container filled with potting medium.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Finding new degrees of colorful suits, flowing capes, and animal print jumpsuits supported the show’s tone from the beginning, but has increasingly become part of the HBO series’s comedy in its own right.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 May 2025
  • Stephanie was initially at a crossroads at the beginning of the film.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • The app provides basic image corrections, along with graphics and fonts, raw camera file support, retouching tools, and some workflow capabilities.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
  • Accessibility Reader This is another innovation which works alongside Magnifier, to take text from the physical world and turn it into a legible format in a custom font.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Source.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/source. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

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