rootless

[ˈruːtləs]

rootless Definition

  • 1having no roots or lacking a secure anchorage
  • 2having no basis in reality or fact; unfounded

Using rootless: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "rootless" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The rootless plant was easily uprooted by the wind.

  • Example

    He felt rootless and disconnected from his family.

  • Example

    Her accusations were completely rootless and unfounded.

rootless Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with rootless

  • a term used during Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign to describe Jews who were accused of being disloyal to the Soviet Union

    Example

    Many Jewish intellectuals were purged during Stalin's campaign against rootless cosmopolitans.

  • a tree that has been uprooted or whose roots have been damaged, making it unstable and likely to fall

    Example

    The storm knocked down several rootless trees in the park.

  • a generation of young people who lack a sense of belonging or purpose, often due to social or economic instability

    Example

    Many millennials are considered part of the rootless generation, struggling to find their place in an uncertain world.

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Summary: rootless in Brief

The term 'rootless' [ˈruːtləs] describes something that lacks a secure anchorage, either physically or metaphorically. It can refer to plants, people, or ideas, as in 'The rootless plant was easily uprooted by the wind,' 'He felt rootless and disconnected from his family,' and 'Her accusations were completely rootless and unfounded.' The phrase 'rootless cosmopolitan' refers to Jews accused of disloyalty to the Soviet Union during Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign.

How do native speakers use this expression?