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

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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 These germs can make people sick with an illness called salmonellosis. — Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Researchers First Looked to Animal Models for Clues Your gut is home to a community of microbes called the microbiome, and these helpful germs play an important role in digestion. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Oct. 2026 PhoneSoap Basic kills up to 99% of germs in 10-minute sessions. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Turn up the heat only when grease, germs or heavy soil give you a specific reason. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026 If hot water will cause damage, use a laundry sanitizer in a cold or warm water cycle to eliminate germs and bacteria. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026 Their wavelike motion helps move around germs, mucus, dust, and other irritants so the body can dispel them via coughing or sneezing. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026 Regular washing removes allergens, germs, and buildup from skin, dust, and pet hair. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 18 Sep. 2026 What separates countries is not the germs themselves but the resources available to tackle them, Deng added. — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for germs

Noun

Cooke does his best to dramatize these origins, often through dry humor, but the personalities involved don’t quite rise to the level of an Aaron Sorkin drama.

— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Episode four of VisionQuest digs into Butcherbird’s origins and identity while raising fresh questions about her.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of origins

Noun

Reid on Wednesday remembered a player who embraced his rural roots — Bailey grew up in Hog Hammock on Sapelo Island off the Georgia coast — and offered, ahem, a culinary tip.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
The goddesses in these paintings have a serene air, with roots firmly anchored in the earth, but also a crown of leaves that sway with the wind.

— Tatiane de Assis, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of roots

Noun

Set in the 1980s, the series will follow Marckinkus from his beginnings as Pope Paul VI’s unofficial bodyguard to his tenure at the helm of the Vatican’s finances.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
Murky beginnings Growing up in Weston-super-Mare, Archer was doted on by his mother, who worked as a journalist on the local paper and sent him to Wellington School on a scholarship.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of beginnings

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germproof

germs

germy

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“Germs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germs. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of germs

noun

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