sources 1 of 2

noun

plural of source
1
as in origins
a point or place at which something is invented or provided we were uncertain as to the source of the rumors a source of inspiration

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in references
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

sources

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of source
as in documents

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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 sources
Noun
El Niño and La Niña are the biggest sources of seasonal climate predictability. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 The current outbreak has previously been linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, but officials haven’t ruled out additional sources of the infection. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2026 Hungary has relied on regional electricity imports as well as renewable sources to try to make up for the deficit from the Paks plant. — Justin Spike, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 Variety has learned from sources that Bautista is currently in talks for the role of Kratos in the Amazon Prime Video series based on the popular video game franchise. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026 Explanations for this varied among sources, and officially, Sotheby’s said they had been asked too late to do facilitate the sale, despite their initial acceptance. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Finding other sources of revenue to replace a portion of property taxes has stirred debate among local policymakers. — Stephanie Leiser, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026 Mia Bieniemy, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, was shot Sunday night at their home in Virginia, sources confirmed to The Star. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026 Although India differs substantially from Nepal and Bangladesh, many of the same sources of youth frustration are becoming increasingly visible. — Šumit Ganguly, NPR, 27 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sources
  1. origins
  2. headwaters
  3. references
  4. documents
  5. fountains
  6. tributaries
  7. authorities
  8. roots
Noun
  • The church’s origins date to the arrival of Christian missionaries in Mombasa in 1844, and its membership has long represented a diverse cross section of Kenyan society, with members of various ethnicities and social strata.
    — Stephanie TriplettAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Like Amazon, Airbnb, and many other startup breakthrough stories, Whatnot traces its origins back to a small rental home.
    — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of origins
Noun
  • The headwaters of this 1,400-mile long artery are in the Rocky Mountains, fed by melting snowpack.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Following an exceedingly warm year that has left the Colorado River’s headwaters in the Rocky Mountains largely snowless, Lake Mead is nearing a record-low level.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of headwaters
Noun
  • The most chatter from fans of Roku City — yes, a screen saver has many, many devotees — springs from the Easter eggs, a revolving selection of more than 40 pop-culture moments and nostalgic references that populate the screen.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
  • No family references existed in the databases to make a DNA match, so the case went cold again.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of references
Verb
  • Louder Than Fear, directed by Justin Krook and Michael Dwyer, documents the star’s journey to fame and his personal battles, including the aftermath of his 2008 private plane crash.
    — Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The literature also documents rare liver toxicity, along with seizures, tremors, and respiratory depression.
    — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of documents
Noun
  • The water district has been paying residents to rip out their thirsty grass and replace it with landscaping or trees, banned most new commercial fountains and water features, and limited the amount of water golf courses may use.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Wall fountains make a bold statement in any outdoor space while remaining subtle and elegant.
    — Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of fountains
Noun
  • Presidio is protected by a series of berms and levees built in the 1970s and 1980s along the Rio Grande and tributaries to combat flooding.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Chesapeake Bay tributaries are important spawning areas, producing between 70% and 90% of the coastwide population of striped bass.
    — Ken Perrotte, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of tributaries
Noun
  • At the time of his arrest authorities also determined that Taele was a suspect in a robbery case being investigated by the El Segundo Police Department.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The suspect was seen taking photos and videos of the grounds, authorities said.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of authorities
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
Definition of roots

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Cite this Entry

“Sources.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sources. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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