germs

noun

plural of germ
as in origins
the source from which something grows or develops this hastily scribbled equation on a cocktail napkin became the germ of a new scientific theory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 germs Researchers First Looked to Animal Models for Clues Your gut is home to a community of microbes called the microbiome, and these helpful germs play an important role in digestion. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Oct. 2026 PhoneSoap Basic kills up to 99% of germs in 10-minute sessions. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Turn up the heat only when grease, germs or heavy soil give you a specific reason. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026 If hot water will cause damage, use a laundry sanitizer in a cold or warm water cycle to eliminate germs and bacteria. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026 Their wavelike motion helps move around germs, mucus, dust, and other irritants so the body can dispel them via coughing or sneezing. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026 Regular washing removes allergens, germs, and buildup from skin, dust, and pet hair. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 18 Sep. 2026 What separates countries is not the germs themselves but the resources available to tackle them, Deng added. — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026 In August 2025, Health and Human Services also scaled down the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known as FoodNet, which tracks food poisoning cases, slashing mandatory surveillance of six major germs, including cyclospora. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germs
  1. origins
  2. roots
  3. seed
  4. beginnings
Noun
  • For anyone who spends a lot of time online, the series’s AI origins are hard to miss.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This team considered the origins of this star using a model of the Milky Way that has been rapidly enriched with elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, which astronomers call metals, via the death of the first generation of stars.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of origins
Noun
  • Each work takes its cues from Vodou spiritual practices in Haiti that are grounded in their African roots.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Inspired by her Mexican roots, Ale Moreno is the graphic designer behind the exclusive collection of team merchandise.
    — Mary Lee, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of roots
Noun
  • The collection launches with Seeded Natural, an unbleached, undyed fabric that leaves the cotton’s own seeds visible in the weave.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Another factor in recent storms was a counterclockwise atmospheric spin over Central America - called a gyre - that spits out seeds of stormy weather that can form into hurricanes.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of seed
Noun
  • Nubar is a Kurdish word symbolizing a fresh start and new beginnings, just like Mustafa's.
    — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • One man who always has a lot to say is Josh Pate, the college football commentator who started from humble beginnings and is now one of the foremost voices in the sport.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of beginnings

Browse Nearby Words

germproof
germs
germy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Germs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germs. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All