If you root out a problem or an unpleasant situation, you find out who or what is the cause of it and put an end to it. There would be a major drive to root out corruption
pull up by or as if by the roots; "uproot the vine that has spread all over the garden"
If you root out a person, you find them and force them from the place they are in, usually in order to punish them. The generals have to root out traitors It shouldn't take too long to root him out