The phrase "to root out" means to eliminate or remove something completely, often referring to removing an unwanted habit, behavior, or practice. It can also mean to find and address the source of a problem in order to fix it fully.
Still, the Brazilian government needs to do more to improve governance by rooting out corruption and enforcing existing laws. (news.mongabay.com)
With those kind of costs eating up our budget, we have no choice but to be what I call appropriately aggressive in rooting out fraud. (rocklandvoice.com)
We will continue to root out public corruption wherever we find it. (news.wbfo.org)