as in origin
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 germ
Those were the germs of The Comeback.
—
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
The aluminum lining also makes cleanup easy—just wipe it down—and helps guard against bacteria and germs.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 15 Mar. 2026
Since many pregnant and postpartum women either struggle with or are recovering from a weak immune system, even germs from sources as innocuous as a bidet can prove irritating.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
When cleaning protocols break down, those germs can spread rapidly in close quarters.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germ
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
The aluminum lining also makes cleanup easy—just wipe it down—and helps guard against bacteria and germs.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 15 Mar. 2026
Since many pregnant and postpartum women either struggle with or are recovering from a weak immune system, even germs from sources as innocuous as a bidet can prove irritating.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
When cleaning protocols break down, those germs can spread rapidly in close quarters.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germ
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germ
Noun
-
Depending on the origin and destination of the cargo, price increases have seen substantial accelerations as planes have either remained grounded or taken out of service.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Dozens of amateur and professional photographers were invited to find beauty in the invisible world of force fields and subatomic particles, which blip into existence for fractions of a second and hold secrets about the origin and fate of the universe.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My in-room Japanese breakfast was another highlight, with hjiki seaweed and red snow crab, stems of earthy burdock root, crunchy snow pea with yuzu, and buttery, roasted Greenland halibut.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
-
These five artists have combined their Indigenous roots with revolutionary artistic techniques to preserve their cultures in the face of adversity.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico had each of her players bring in a quote that resonates with them, sophomore guard Olivia Olson provided one that truly encapsulates the Wolverines heading into the only women's NCAA Tournament regional final matching the top two seeds.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Heat essentially needed to sweep the league’s tankers this season because of its poor 22-29 record against teams with top 10 seeds.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Without spoiling too much, Kane and Palk get to bond over their Kansas City roots in the beginning of the show.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The geologist Charles Lyell proposed that the very ground beneath mankind’s feet had been reshaped countless times before the beginning of human history and was even now in a state of flux.—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germ.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germ. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
