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
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Recent Examples of germs
Raw milk has not been pasteurized — a process that heats milk to remove disease-causing germs.
—
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Then use a bleach solution or sanitizing spray to reduce germs.
—Kendall Bettle, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
Increase cleaning frequency for high-touch surfaces and floors to reduce germs and remove tracked-in dirt and debris.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
Most milk is pasteurized, which means it is briefly heated to a high enough temperature to kill germs.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Listeria is one of many disease-causing germs that can appear in milk that has not been pasteurized.
—Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
Already in quarantine to avoid germs, Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew will be the first people to launch to the moon since 1972.
—Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
That’s where smart travel essentials come in—from staying hydrated with an Owala water bottle to keeping germs at bay with Purell hand sanitizer.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Some types of snow Brunning identified were column, plane, rimed, germs, irregularities, as well as combinations of all of those elements.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2026
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Then use a bleach solution or sanitizing spray to reduce germs.
—Kendall Bettle, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
Increase cleaning frequency for high-touch surfaces and floors to reduce germs and remove tracked-in dirt and debris.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
Most milk is pasteurized, which means it is briefly heated to a high enough temperature to kill germs.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Listeria is one of many disease-causing germs that can appear in milk that has not been pasteurized.
—Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
Already in quarantine to avoid germs, Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew will be the first people to launch to the moon since 1972.
—Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
That’s where smart travel essentials come in—from staying hydrated with an Owala water bottle to keeping germs at bay with Purell hand sanitizer.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Some types of snow Brunning identified were column, plane, rimed, germs, irregularities, as well as combinations of all of those elements.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germs
Noun
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Valentine's Day pagan connections One of the most common explanations is that Valentine's Day has its origins in the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia.—
Marina Johnson,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
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Each lambda also contains a strange quark, or a strange antiquark in the case of an antilambda, which allows physicists to trace its origins.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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In 2017, McRae went back to her YouTube roots and uploaded a video of herself singing an original ballad.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Some business leaders – notably Michael Dell – have pledged to make one-time $250 seed contributions to the accounts of certain groups of children from middle- to lower-income households.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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This version of the Hawaiian snack — buttery and tossed with seaweed and sesame seeds — is adapted from food stylist Caroline Hwang’s recipe, which was passed to her from her friend, Corey Chow, former chef de cuisine at Per Se in New York, who adapted it from his mom.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Seattle Seahawks' Julian Love, Rylie Mills, and Eric Saubert, along with the New England Patriots' Robert Spillane, all trace their football beginnings to Chicagoland high schools — Spillane at Fenwick, Saubert at Hoffman Estates, Love at Nazareth Academy, and Mills at Lake Forest.—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Singer and rapper Bad Bunny may be gracing the stage as the performer at Sunday's Super Bowl LX halftime show, but his beginnings started thousands of miles away in Puerto Rico with his mother, father, and two brothers.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germs. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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