root 1 of 2

noun

ˈrüt How to pronounce root (audio)
Definition of rootnext
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

root

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word root distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of root are inception, origin, and source. While all these words mean "the point at which something begins its course or existence," root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

When would inception be a good substitute for root?

While the synonyms inception and root are close in meaning, 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 root?

The synonyms origin and root are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Where would source be a reasonable alternative to root?

In some situations, the words source and root are roughly equivalent. However, source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

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 root
Noun
Having earned degrees in political science and history at Ohio’s Miami University, Nixon was arguably over-qualified to be a roots-rocking, hell-raising provocateur who somehow was embraced by MTV for several years and went on to become the host of several shows on Sirius XM Radio. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 The roots of this fixation go back decades, as Japan slowly shifted from an economic juggernaut to a cultural superpower exporting everything from Tamagotchi toys to Pokémon to Naruto. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Johnson’s daughter, six-year-old Adelynn, didn’t immediately grasp his rooting interest. —Sam McDowell 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026 Your hometown rooting interest is well-established. —Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for root
Recent Examples of Synonyms for root
  1. source
  2. origin
  3. foundation
  4. core
  5. embed
  6. cradle
  7. beginning
  8. basis
Noun
  • Counties would have five years to repay the loans, and would also have to pledge a source of revenue in the event FEMA didn't reimburse the funding.
    — ALEX ROZIER Mississippi Today, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • That approach lowers costs at the source, keeps families in the district, and restores real ownership instead of treating homeownership like a recurring tax base for government.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of source
Noun
  • Bauer proposed an amendment to state that a government body shouldn’t take action to prohibit, deny, restrict or interfere with the right to marry based on race, color, ethnicity or national origin.
    — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Though the term has a rich history in hockey, its origins lie in cricket.
    — Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of origin
Noun
  • His hands-on experience, combined with his academic background (PhD and DBA), has formed the foundation of his particular coaching style.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Since 2020, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has invested $41 million into the ThriveOn King building, grants to neighborhood nonprofits and small business loans to entrepreneurs located in the corridor, according to Jeremy Podolski, a spokesperson for the foundation.
    — Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of foundation
Noun
  • Perhaps, on extremely long timescales, those heavier elements will sink to the center of the core, producing an inert center that slows the rate of fusion even further.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Sina Azodi, the director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University, told Fox News Digital that Khamenei’s authority stems from direct control over Iran’s core power centers.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of core
Verb
  • Her experience with cotton and with cotton fields in southern Texas accompanies the evolution of the character of my paternal grandmother, Petra Peña, a double rock embedded in her very name.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
  • These gains will only accelerate over the next few years as AI becomes further embedded in global supply networks.
    — Paul Hudson, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of embed
Noun
  • From the digital creations that power our modern world to the bridges that span these waters, the Bay Area has always been the American cradle of invention.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
  • O’Connor proves herself up to the task by eschewing the traditional cradle-to-grave narrative, peppered with interviews with those who knew the protagonist.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of cradle
Noun
  • Intertextuality is described by Scarlett Barton in perhaps the opposite way, as linked to Roland Barthes’ observation that the author is dead, and that the text is the dissolution of every kind of voice, every beginning and core.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • This approach may appeal to taxpayers who want more personalized guidance at the beginning of the tax relief process before deciding how to proceed.
    — Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of beginning
Noun
  • Demonstrations are happening on a near daily basis.
    — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Her job, which keeps you breathless even from the safety of your chair or sofa, sees her mediating between clients, company management and cleaning staff on a daily basis.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of basis

Phrases Containing root

Browse Nearby Words

roosts
root
rooted
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Cite this Entry

“Root.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/root. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on root

Nglish: Translation of root for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about root

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