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
With Democrats in the minority in both chambers of Congress and the Trump administration staffed by loyalists aiming to root out public and private dissent, the courts are liberals’ main venue for meaningful opposition to the president.
—
Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Speaking to reporters after the committee meeting, House Budget Chairman Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, characterized the request for information from agencies as an effort to carry out part of Perez’s mandate to root out wasteful spending.
—Dara Kam, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
Trump officials claim that mass deportations are necessary to root out dangerous criminals who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Some onlookers are also dubious that the change will make HHS more adept at rooting out fraud, waste and abuse.
—Maya Goldman, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for root out
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Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Speaking to reporters after the committee meeting, House Budget Chairman Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, characterized the request for information from agencies as an effort to carry out part of Perez’s mandate to root out wasteful spending.
—Dara Kam, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
Trump officials claim that mass deportations are necessary to root out dangerous criminals who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Some onlookers are also dubious that the change will make HHS more adept at rooting out fraud, waste and abuse.
—Maya Goldman, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for root out
Cite this Entry
“Root out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root%20out. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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