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Synonyms

root out

British  

verb

  1. (tr, adverb) to remove or eliminate completely

    we must root out inefficiency

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

root out Idioms  
  1. Search for, seek to discover, as in He was trying to root out the reason for her long absence. This idiom alludes to the way hogs dig by using their snouts. [Mid-1800s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

When asked about the rise in hate crimes, the mayor said Monday that his administration is working to root out antisemitism.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 3, 2026

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We are taking action to crack down on cosmetic cowboys and root out dangerous practices."

From BBC Jul. 22, 2026

He has tried to get the DNI to help him root out who—among U.S. and Russian agents—spread the story.

From Slate Jul. 1, 2026

De la Espriella would be an unusual steward to beat back gangs and root out corruption, as he’s promised to do with the help of the Trump administration.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 1, 2026

That age-old weakness of brethren you always root out and you always use.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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