root out

verb

To remove or abolish completely.

“Near-synonym: suss out”

Similar
root upuprooteradicatederacinateextirpatesuss outexterminate
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Meanings

verbroot out (third-person singular simple present roots out, present participle rooting out, simple past and past participle rooted out)

present singular third person roots out · participle present rooting out · participle past rooted out · past rooted out

  1. transitiveTo remove or abolish completely.

    They rooted out all vestiges of corruption.

    1 more example

    They rooted out all the burdock from their paddocks.

    Synonyms: root up, uproot, eradicate, deracinate, extirpate

  2. transitiveTo search for and discover.

    Near-synonym: suss out

    1 more example

    It took them hours to root out exactly where the water was coming in.

    Synonyms: suss out

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo remove or abolish completely.

Similar
root upuprooteradicatederacinateextirpate

verbTo search for and discover.

Similar
suss out

More synonyms by meaning

verbpull up by or as if by the roots

Similar
uprootextirpatederacinate
Broader
movedisplace

verbdestroy completely, as if down to the roots

Similar
uprooteradicateextirpateexterminate
Broader
destroydestruct
Also see
deracinateeradicateexterminateextirpaterootroot upuproot

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From the notion of eradication: ripping something out by the roots.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Polish wyplenić, wypleniać
  • wyplenićto remove or abolish completely
  • wypleniaćto remove or abolish completely
Spanish desraigar, desarraigar
  • desraigarto remove or abolish completely
  • desarraigarto remove or abolish completely
  • desenraizarto remove or abolish completely
  • extirparto remove or abolish completely
Turkish kökünü kazımak
  • kökünü kazımakto remove or abolish completely
Cite this entry
APA

root out. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/root%20out

MLA

“root out.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/root%20out. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “root out,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/root%20out.

Source: root out on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.