1
as in sources
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 origins
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 foundations
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 essences
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
as in lodges
to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter
rooted the post securely in the dirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 roots
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
For better or for worse, the Halo franchise seems to be done with wacky campaign experiments and is returning to its roots.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Little Tokyo often steals the spotlight, but Gardena and Torrance’s Japanese American roots run just as deep.
—Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Vertical debuts adventure drama Last Days by Justin Lin (Fast & Furious franchise, Tokyo Drift), in a return to his indie roots, on 312 screens.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Born in the Bronx to an Irish-American mother and a father with Neapolitan roots—a bookmaker and co-owner of a bar on the Throggs Neck peninsula—Ferrara spent his first eight years in the borough’s Morris Park neighborhood.
—Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
But James Sparks, winemaker and owner of Kings Carey, explains that this theme park–esque Santa Barbara County village has legitimate Scandi roots.
—Justin Goldman, AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
This helps the water reach the roots.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
During the segment, Brandy paid tribute to her California roots by donning an LA Dodgers-style hat.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Rising seas could swallow the land that roots our identity.
—Feleti Penitala Teo, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
In a strong culture, everyone roots their daily decisions in a desire to be in it to win it; there's a sense of ownership, pride and belonging.
—Alex Brueckmann, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
As well, his longstanding appreciation of country music roots his art in respect and reverence of the genre's history.
—Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
Evolito itself traces its roots to YASA’s early axial flux technology.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
For better or for worse, the Halo franchise seems to be done with wacky campaign experiments and is returning to its roots.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Little Tokyo often steals the spotlight, but Gardena and Torrance’s Japanese American roots run just as deep.
—Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Vertical debuts adventure drama Last Days by Justin Lin (Fast & Furious franchise, Tokyo Drift), in a return to his indie roots, on 312 screens.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Born in the Bronx to an Irish-American mother and a father with Neapolitan roots—a bookmaker and co-owner of a bar on the Throggs Neck peninsula—Ferrara spent his first eight years in the borough’s Morris Park neighborhood.
—Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
But James Sparks, winemaker and owner of Kings Carey, explains that this theme park–esque Santa Barbara County village has legitimate Scandi roots.
—Justin Goldman, AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
This helps the water reach the roots.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
During the segment, Brandy paid tribute to her California roots by donning an LA Dodgers-style hat.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
Natural rock formations rise through the living room floor, a detail that roots the design in the hillside itself, and a full renovation of an existing home brought it in line with the style of the main house while still maintaining its own identity.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Rising seas could swallow the land that roots our identity.
—Feleti Penitala Teo, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
In a strong culture, everyone roots their daily decisions in a desire to be in it to win it; there's a sense of ownership, pride and belonging.
—Alex Brueckmann, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
As well, his longstanding appreciation of country music roots his art in respect and reverence of the genre's history.
—Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roots
Noun
-
During the formative phase of the infant American republic, when its survival was still problematic, iconic founders performed a valuable function as reliable sources of unquestioned wisdom, a veritable gallery of Delphic oracles available on demand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
While federal grand juries operate in secrecy, any connection between their proceedings and political claims remains speculative unless confirmed by official sources.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Uruguay origins The conference dates back to 2016 and is usually held in Punta del Este in the North American fall.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
-
But with inflation replacing the earliest moments of that stage, all of a sudden the story of our ultimate origins was thrown into doubt.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The same Philadelphia that witnessed the birth of American independence also nurtured competing visions of nationhood—ones that challenged the very foundations of who could claim full citizenship in the republic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
In those early days, even with needs piling up, wealthy donors and private foundations grappled with how to respond.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Infused in cleansers, toners, and even essences, K-beauty’s exfoliating ingredients are often gentle and appear alongside hydrators to keep skin comfortable, while still delivering their brightening, smoothing, and resurfacing benefits.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The songs pack a wide range of elements into a single track, starting with rock, pop, soul, funk, dub, club music, and rap, plus various other essences, from singer-songwriter-like qualities to music originating from Japan’s internet like Vocaloid.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Their moves come against the backdrop of a competitive primary fight for the Senate in 2026, as Paxton lodges a conservative challenge against the incumbent.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In the photos, Travis can be seen down on one knee as Swift cradles his face in the sweet moment.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
-
However, looking deep into these swirling cradles of planet formation has always been tricky.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And in both cases, the women break the men's hearts by rejecting them and leaving them in tears.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The academy is a crucible for human formation, a place where minds and hearts are forged in the fire of inquiry, reflection, complexity and nuance.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
More specifically, Chastain’s character embeds herself on dark-web message boards spreading white-supremacist rhetoric.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
-
But in an interesting twist, the new third installment, The Ed Gein Story, embeds the idea of differing versions of the truth into the season’s narrative.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Roots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roots. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share