Grass-roots is often used to describe the basic level of an organization or movement, as well as the individuals who originate and drive the effort forward. However, there are several other synonyms that can be used interchangeably with "grass-roots." Some of these synonyms include ground-level, bottom-up, community-based, local, and decentralized. These words all convey the idea of starting from the bottom and working up to achieve a goal. They also emphasize the importance of individuals within a collective effort and the value of their input. Whether it is a political campaign, social movement, or community project, these synonyms can be used to describe the spirit of starting from the ground up.