Thesaurus results for GERMS

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 Zinc and vitamin D also work together to strengthen physical barriers, such as the skin and the membranes of the respiratory tract, preventing germs from entering the body. —

Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 12 May 2026 Travel The truth about germs on cruises Have a cruise booked later this year? —

Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 12 May 2026 This will lessen the potential cross-contamination of germs. —

Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 May 2026 Cleaning is the act of removing dirt and germs from a surface, whereas disinfecting kills germs. —

Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2026 Infection is usually caused by inhaling germs from the rodents’ urine, droppings or saliva that have become airborne. —

Lauren Dunn, NBC news, 7 May 2026 The high temperatures that a standard washer uses are enough to eliminate germs. —

Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Beichler said his 150-cow farm works with a veterinarian on regular herd checks and has a safety process that includes sending milk samples to labs every week to test for common germs. —

Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026 Inside, microorganisms break down the body into soil in a natural process that generates heat to reach temperatures of 131 F (55 C) or higher — enough to kill germs. —

Dorany Pineda, Fortune, 2 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for germs

Noun

That same day the Associated Press reported that two Argentine officials who were investigating the origins of the outbreak and spoke on the condition of anonymity said the government’s leading hypothesis was that the couple contracted the virus while bird-watching in Ushuaia before the cruise.

— Kate Wong, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
Muslim Americans too have claimed the couple as ancestors, forging a lineage in America that stretches back before the formation of the United States, an alluring story of American origins, belonging, and place within a national story that has largely rejected them.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026