ROOTS Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

roots 1 of 2

noun

plural of root

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

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

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

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

roots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of root

as in embeds

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

Noun

Vest’s campus roots Ma, 25, became interested in crypto derivatives while studying finance and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026 Plus, plenty of scalp serums are available, too (great hair starts at the roots, of course). — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026 Their roots actually move them slowly over time to find new sunlight. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026 The backstory Borgo Santandrea is owned by two families from neighboring Ischia with deep hospitality roots. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 Its smaller brush head and slim, ergonomic handle make even styling shorter hair a breeze, giving you better control to lift roots, shape ends, and add volume without the arm workout. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026 By translating the contours of a tulip into concrete and steel, the tower nods to the cultural roots of its developer while adding a sculptural flourish to Miami’s evolving skyline. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 Data show roots of crisis The state report lays out data in detail. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 The clothing brand, known for its buttery soft denim pants, started in 2002 with the aim to combine British roots with the energy of New York City’s fashion with a modern twist. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

However, her performance soon takes on a more grounded, childlike cadence, which roots the supposedly amnesiac Margot a little too firmly within the literal, especially for a tale whose poetry lies in its uncanniness. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 Instead, Nowell roots the band’s sound in the mid-’90s and keeps his vocal mannerisms as close to Bradley’s as possible. — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026 Cousteau roots his pitch in economics. — Justin Worland, Time, 28 May 2026 This is a high-spirited opening for curious neighbors and travelers alike, with a mischievous sense of fun that firmly roots guests in their destination. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 Louisiana dirty rice is a tasty meat-and-rice dish that roots its flavor in aromatic Cajun seasoning and the holy trinity vegetables. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026 For Pritchard, whose Stanford roots date back to 2005, the chance to return as head coach was both emotional and deeply personal. — Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roots

Noun

In July, the music artist and producer spent some solo time after getting into a prison fight, sources told TMZ and NBC News.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
The satellites can observe individual facilities from orbit and gather measurements that help identify greenhouse gas sources.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of sources

Noun

Life’s one-handedness puzzle The duo’s research has both given chemists fundamental new tools that are widely used in their daily work and awakened interest in the chemistry of life’s origins, the committee said.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
By then, the meme had already become a viral format, and users cared little about its AI origins.

— Angela Yang, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of origins

Noun

And the very foundations of Lunatic Fringe are shaking with the separation of Angie Katsanevas and Shawn Trujillo.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
There are few foundations that deliver true full-coverage that still leaves skin looking like, well, skin—and the Teint Idole Ultra Wear Natural Matte Foundation is easily one of them.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of foundations

Noun

Wittgenstein proposed to abandon the appeal to essences for the concept of family resemblance.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
To experience a thicker, chewier noodle, order the tsukemen (dipping-style ramen) with a broth, as dense as gravy, fusing the essences of pork, chicken and fish.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of essences

Verb

The brand embeds itself in the treatment room, too, not just on the retail shelf.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
By running a masternode, Clear Street embeds itself directly into the core consensus layer, taking on the heavy lifting of verifying transactions and steering network governance.

— Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of embeds

Noun

Soft, dynamic cushioning cradles your feet with every step while providing maximum support, providing transition assistance between launch and landing.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Egypt, one of the word’s cradles of civilization, is also a vibrant, modern country.

— Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Definition of cradles

Noun

Inspired by the Spanish luxury house’s own beginnings as an artisanal workshop, the award intends to recognize excellence and innovation in craft in all its forms.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
And Royal Enfield, which is now one of the most recognizable brands on the planet, has had an even longer, stranger journey from its British beginnings to becoming an Indian motorcycle powerhouse.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of beginnings

Noun

While the 28-year-old hit 19 homers and stole 41 bases, his 98 wRC+ ranked 14th among qualified second basemen.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
To cover other basic bases, this laptop rocks a standard 60Hz refresh rate, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage, which is typical for a laptop at this price point.

— Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026