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
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Recent Examples of germ
Bird flu represents a new potential threat in raw milk, which has not been pasteurized, a process that kills germs with high heat.
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Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2024
Washing raw turkey can also lead to the spread of germs around the kitchen, according to the CDC.
—Sylvan Lebrun, Chicago Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024
Along with other cleaning ingredients, chlorine's primary role in cleaning products is disinfecting by killing germs.
—Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
Raw milk is not pasteurized, a process that includes heating to a high temperature to kill harmful germs and viruses.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for germ 
Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2024
Washing raw turkey can also lead to the spread of germs around the kitchen, according to the CDC.
—Sylvan Lebrun, Chicago Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024
Along with other cleaning ingredients, chlorine's primary role in cleaning products is disinfecting by killing germs.
—Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
Raw milk is not pasteurized, a process that includes heating to a high temperature to kill harmful germs and viruses.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for germ
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germ
Noun
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True to their origin story, Gonzalez was wearing a sequin La DoubleJ number for the occasion.Freya Drohan, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024
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The origin point of the blaze is textbook wildland-urban interface, or WUI (woo-ee).Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Participants at the meeting reportedly discussed how to possibly introduce legislative measures to enable the mass expulsion of immigrants from Germany, as well as German citizens with immigrant roots and German citizens who have helped refugees.Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024
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This article explores the root causes of these partnerships, their implications on the future of the automotive industry and actionable insights for businesses looking to navigate this changing landscape.Amaan Kazi, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Many Chinese five-spice blends comprise ground star anise seed, cinnamon or its close relative cassia, cloves, Sichuan pepper, and ground fennel seeds.Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 13 Dec. 2024
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Kentucky missed the tournament in 2021 and lost in the first round in 2022 and 2024 as a No. 2 and No. 3 seed, respectively.Tim Casey, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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My stay was brief—just two nights at the beginning of a weeklong trip through Spain.Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Dec. 2024
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This has led to the most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, crossing the $100,000 mark for the first time ever - more than doubling from the level of $44,000 at the beginning of the year.Trefis Team, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Germ.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germ. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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