source 1 of 2

1
2
as in headwater
the beginning part of a stream 19th-century explorers who sought the source of the Nile

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in reference
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information the professor asked the students to have at least five different sources for their papers

Synonyms & Similar Words

source

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word source distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of source are inception, origin, and root. While all these words mean "the point at which something begins its course or existence," source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

When is inception a more appropriate choice than source?

While in some cases nearly identical to source, inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since its inception

When is it sensible to use origin instead of source?

The words origin and source are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being.

an investigation into the origin of baseball

When can root be used instead of source?

While the synonyms root and source are close in meaning, root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

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 source
Noun
Italy’s famed Sforza Castle is a focal point for historians, architects, and art lovers—as well as a source of many legends. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Jan. 2025 The city relies extensively on the approval of state loans and other sources of funding that are under the governor’s purview. Alexandra Berzon, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
Your Super even outlines where each one is sourced from—wheatgrass and barley grass are sourced in the U.S.A., while moringa is from India, baobab from Ghana, spirulina from Chile, and chlorella from Portugal. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2025 For these costumes, Lovaas sourced from mills in the American South but also in the U.K. Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for source 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for source
Noun
  • Understanding the history and origin of these laws is critical to that effort.
    Peter L. Markowitz, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
  • The movement bears the prestigious Geneva Seal, a certification that guarantees not only the movement's Geneva origin but also its superior chronometry and finishing.
    Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Instead of reducing releases from the big reservoirs that the Lower Basin uses, the Upper Basin has to cut back according to what’s flowing down headwater streams.
    Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Hard-rock mining has contaminated at least 40 percent of headwaters in the western U.S..
    Ashley C. Nunes, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2024
Noun
  • This reference was in production until 1990, and this example shows only light signs of age around the case and dial.
    Blake Buettner, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Keep track of your major accomplishments and milestones to reference during performance reviews, and continually communicate your achievements.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Photo : Simon Berlyn Two chairs are situated on either side of a serene fountain.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Earlier this week, field observations recorded fountain heights reaching up to 330 feet, though activity has since moderated, according to USGS.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Or in his woodshop finishing a cradle for a great-grandchild.
    Rachel Dobkin, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Fell says the project is especially interested in Woodstock’s place in the Catskill Mountains, a former summer refuge for New York’s Jewish vacationers and a cradle of Borscht Belt comedy.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The first lady, who has consistently championed American designers throughout her time in the public eye, stayed true to her style roots with the Ralph Lauren creation.
    Ty Gaskins, WWD, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Set plants only deep enough such that their root collars (where branches meet the root system) are level with or slightly above the surrounding soil level.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Popular on Variety At the beginning, these demonstrations are at the margins of the film — more like background noise than an integral part of the plot.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 18 Jan. 2025
  • And high temperatures at the beginning of recent school years have closed school buildings across the country due to inability to handle the heat.
    Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Variety: The colors, characters and even the font used all evoke nostalgia for fantasy films from the 1980s and ’90s.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025
  • An endless font of darkly brilliant romance and comedy, Gibson and the 35-year-old Falley use laughter to endure oncology treatments, canceled plans, and the ever-increasing weight of potential grief.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near source

Cite this Entry

“Source.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/source. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on source

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