root 1 of 2

1
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

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root

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verb

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
The root of the problem lies within the Constitution. Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 13 June 2025 But here, in the narrows of the canyon, where Temescal Creek tickled the roots of sycamores and cooled the air beneath the heavy branches of valley oaks, Young lighted up with the enthusiasm of an amateur botanist. Greg Goldin, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Verb
Life offers a series of uncomfortable truths, often rooted not in surface-level perception but in our deeper human wiring. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 But the specter of A.I. misuse, and the imperfect systems used to root it out, may also be affecting students who are following the rules. Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for root
Recent Examples of Synonyms for root
Noun
  • Yerevan has since sought to diversify its defense sources, reducing arms imports from Russia to as low as 10 percent by 2024.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • Climate change and shifting food sources are also causing species-wide population declines, the experts said.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • As global airlines compete for high-paying passengers, wine is emerging as a new marker of status—less about volume and more about origin, style and association with elite producers.
    Rachel King, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • The origins of jerk cooking go back to the Indigenous Arawak people of Jamaica.
    Sandals Resorts, AFAR Media, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • Harry Williams, president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, said the order should serve as a call to action for corporations, foundations and lawmakers to redouble support for HBCUs and their students.
    Cheyanne Mumphrey, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • In short, schools can now directly pay players through licensing deals — a concept that goes against the foundation of amateurism that college sports was built upon.
    Eddie Pells, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • If wheat is infected during flowering, the fungus colonizes, killing the florets, and kernels don’t develop.
    Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
  • The poisonous kernels are responsible for a significant number of suicides and homicides, particularly in rural areas of South Asia.
    Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • This also requires embedding AI within core operational processes rather than treating it as a side initiative.
    Muamer Cisija, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Steel plates have been embedded in the asphalt to protect roads from 140,000-pound tanks.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • The president was undeterred, and the flights resumed the very next day, filled with cardboard file boxes that had been repurposed into makeshift cradles.
    Jim Axelrod June 9, CBS News, 9 June 2025
  • The lifestyle appeal of the M2 Pro is instantly obvious in its eye-catching design, which sees a roughly cubic, tan-colored body attached to a crisp metallic supporting cradle within which the projector can be rotated to get its images appearing at the right height on your wall or screen.
    John Archer, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • Only Part of It Hails From Ingolstadt At the beginning of the 1990s, both Audi and Porsche needed help.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 June 2025
  • At the beginning of the year, WWD reported that Medik8 was exploring deal options.
    Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • These wooden cabins were then placed on trucks and driven to locations near the bases.
    Benjamin Brown, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
  • The 2-year yield was more than 2 basis lower, trading at 3.922%.
    Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 3 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Root.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/root. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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