1
as in emerged
to come into being
A new counterculture germinating in the city's art district.
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2
as in propagated
to cause (something, as a seed) to grow
She began by reading up on the best ways to germinate apple seeds.
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Recent Examples of germinated
The moment when the idea first germinated.
—
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
While Wise’s desire to bring a classic French restaurant to San Diego germinated early on in his career, active planning for it began about 2-1/2 years ago.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Once the seeds have germinated, provide good air circulation and water the seeds as soon as the soil is dry to the touch.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2026
Preproduction This is the brainstorming part, when ideas are germinated and tested, leading to new paths and hopefully the kinds of gems that actually end up in the basis of your eventual story.
—Paul Ratner, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
Timing is important for pre-emergence herbicides because they must be applied before the weed has germinated.
—Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 10 Jan. 2026
Most distilleries in Scotland don’t actually malt their own barley, the process in which barley is germinated and then heated to stop the process before being turned into mash and distilled.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2025
Weil’s anti-inflammatory message has germinated across the internet in tweets, podcasts, and YouTube Shorts.
—Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Yanghee Paik’s idea for her period care brand Rael germinated at an unexpected place — The Walt Disney Studios.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
While Wise’s desire to bring a classic French restaurant to San Diego germinated early on in his career, active planning for it began about 2-1/2 years ago.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Once the seeds have germinated, provide good air circulation and water the seeds as soon as the soil is dry to the touch.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2026
Preproduction This is the brainstorming part, when ideas are germinated and tested, leading to new paths and hopefully the kinds of gems that actually end up in the basis of your eventual story.
—Paul Ratner, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
Timing is important for pre-emergence herbicides because they must be applied before the weed has germinated.
—Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 10 Jan. 2026
Most distilleries in Scotland don’t actually malt their own barley, the process in which barley is germinated and then heated to stop the process before being turned into mash and distilled.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2025
Weil’s anti-inflammatory message has germinated across the internet in tweets, podcasts, and YouTube Shorts.
—Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Yanghee Paik’s idea for her period care brand Rael germinated at an unexpected place — The Walt Disney Studios.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinated
Verb
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Curiously, the antidepressant effect emerged after the mind-altering experiences and persisted for more than a week, suggesting that ketamine might be doing more than making the patients trip.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Oklahoma emerged from the break continuing its offensive spurt and outscored the Gamecocks 13-5 in the first five minutes of the second half and led 56-47.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This means the fruit may not taste like the original pomegranate, as most pomegranate trees are propagated from hardwood cuttings, rather than by seed, to ensure consistent fruit production.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
12 Mar. 2026
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Snowbank™ Indian Hawthorne is patent-protected and cannot be propagated.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps Little Foot’s lineage was more closely related to East African hominins, while South African hominins evolved distinct facial features later on, the authors wrote in the study.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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But somewhere in the past few years, that definition has evolved, and the importance of third spaces has blossomed.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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By combining strontium doping and oxygen tuning, the team produced many slightly different versions of the material.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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This is, of course, exactly the logic that drove the CIA’s support for the Mujahideen Mujahedeen in Afghanistan and the arming of Syrian rebel factions – both of which produced consequences their architects failed to foresee.—
John Calabrese,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For farmers who planted orchards years ago expecting a buyer at harvest, the closure adds new uncertainty to an already risky business.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
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Even though her sales weren’t booming, the experience planted a powerful seed.—
Casey DelBasso,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to former federal officials, cartels’ avoidance of deliberately targeting Americans is rooted less in ideology and more in risk management.—
Armando Regil Velasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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Showrunner Bruce Miller says the series is rooted firmly in the television universe fans already know — not a straight adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If the rocks fell, the beatings grew worse.—
MARK BANCHEREAU THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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Pegula says her motivation to pursue tennis came well before her family’s fortune grew.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Iran, as in Afghanistan, religious authority and political authority are deeply entangled, and unless democracy is cultivated within, and unless a robust pluralistic culture evolves from within, outside intervention would not help much.—
Debidatta A. Mahapatra,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
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The good news is that, unlike IQ, which remains relatively stable over a lifetime, AQ can be cultivated.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germinated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinated. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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