root out

phrasal verb

rooted out; rooting out; roots out
1
: to find and remove (something or someone)
The mayor was determined to root out corruption in city government.
2
: to find (something or someone) after searching for a long time
He finally rooted out the cause of the problem.

Examples of root out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But athletes agree that there’s something special about NST, with its fusion of freestyle and freeride and its head-to-head format designed to root out the world’s best men and women in their respective disciplines. — Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 The best way to protect Social Security is by rooting out mismanagement — and not cutting benefits — writes Armstrong Williams. — Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2025 Over the years, the agency has regularly rooted out corruption schemes, fraud and abuse in the Police Department, city jails and other agencies. — Jan Ransom, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025 Musk and Trump say the cuts are needed to root out fraud and waste, but their critics contend DOGE is targeting vital programs and services that benefit Americans. — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for root out

Rhymes for root out

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Browse Nearby Words

root of unity
root out
root position
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Cite this Entry

“Root out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root%20out. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of root out for Spanish Speakers

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