as in unsanitary
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Recent Examples of germy
Curad Alcohol Prep Pads From airplane tray tables to hotel remotes, germy surfaces are everywhere when traveling.
—
Gabriela Garcia, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
The hardware is in contact with dirty, germy hands all day, and exterior handles are exposed to dirt, dust, pollen, and visiting guests.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
The bathroom is the center of cleanliness in many homes, and if your hand towels and toothbrushes are old and germy, your entire home can feel less clean.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2025
Not to mention touching all the items in the store with your germy hands!
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
Related article Walking just 5 minutes a day makes a difference
While Staphylococcus aureus is found on many gym surfaces, exercise mats are particularly germy.
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Shared gym surfaces had even more microbes living on them than commonly germy household surfaces.
—Josh Max, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration acknowledge on their websites that surgical masks are generally meant to help protect against large droplets, splashes or sprays of possibly germy fluid.
—Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2022
People’s unwillingness to touch potentially germy surfaces and devices during the pandemic has greatly accelerated the adoption of unique QR codes.
—Matthew Kitchen, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2021
Gabriela Garcia, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
The hardware is in contact with dirty, germy hands all day, and exterior handles are exposed to dirt, dust, pollen, and visiting guests.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
The bathroom is the center of cleanliness in many homes, and if your hand towels and toothbrushes are old and germy, your entire home can feel less clean.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2025
Not to mention touching all the items in the store with your germy hands!
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
Related article Walking just 5 minutes a day makes a difference
While Staphylococcus aureus is found on many gym surfaces, exercise mats are particularly germy.
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Shared gym surfaces had even more microbes living on them than commonly germy household surfaces.
—Josh Max, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration acknowledge on their websites that surgical masks are generally meant to help protect against large droplets, splashes or sprays of possibly germy fluid.
—Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2022
People’s unwillingness to touch potentially germy surfaces and devices during the pandemic has greatly accelerated the adoption of unique QR codes.
—Matthew Kitchen, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germy
Adjective
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Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions were already a problem, and the new inmates only exasperated them, according to court documents.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Oct. 2025
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This results in overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions which, if left unchecked, can have serious health implications for the pets involved and, in some cases, results in not only sickness but also death.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Unfortunately, curtains can gather a lot of dust, mold, or dirt if not cleaned every so often, and can lead to allergies and an unhygienic home.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
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As of June 20 more than 300 people are being held in cramped and unhygienic conditions, without food and fresh water for long stretches, Frimpong wrote.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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The company issued the recall because the shrimp may have been prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with cesium-137 (Cs-137).—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
22 Sep. 2025
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Employees were observed to only sanitize their gloved hands after touching insanitary surfaces and then resumed touching RTE food and various food contact surfaces.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The change comes amid concerns about fireworks causing unhealthful air.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
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Health professionals encourage people to use lean cuts of meat because most of the fat in animal products is unhealthful saturated fat, which can raise the risk of heart disease and cancer.—
Bethany Thayer,
Detroit Free Press,
22 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Germy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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