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
Since they’re touched by everyone in the house all day and night long, these small surfaces accumulate a massive amount of germs and rarely get cleaned.
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Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
Say goodbye to germs and hello to a sealed, odor-free zone.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024
Remember to prioritize food safety when serving your board to avoid spreading germs; your guests will appreciate the extra care.
—Johna Burdeos, Health, 21 Oct. 2024
Why tolerate the presence of other listeners, with their mumbling and their germs?
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for germ 
Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
Say goodbye to germs and hello to a sealed, odor-free zone.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024
Remember to prioritize food safety when serving your board to avoid spreading germs; your guests will appreciate the extra care.
—Johna Burdeos, Health, 21 Oct. 2024
Why tolerate the presence of other listeners, with their mumbling and their germs?
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for germ
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germ
Noun
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Same as Papen, Tartt felt the blight and taint of her origins.Lili Anolik, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
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The team used the same strontium isotopes that were used to date the DNA samples to get a better understanding of the diversity and origins of Pompeii’s residents.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The village, which is around 215 miles from the coastal Indian city of Chennai, has multiple banners and billboards of Harris, who could become America's first leader with South Asian roots.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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In Caddo Lake, a brain-melting sci-fi film starring Dylan O’Brien that hit Max last month, the wetlands symbolize all of the above and then some as multiple characters try to get to the root of some seriously-hard-to-explain events.Laura Bradley, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The company’s valuation is now almost six times more than its March seed valuation of $400 million.Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
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Coffee, a globally beloved beverage known for its stimulating properties, is derived from the seeds of coffee cherries.Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The Nuggets more or less survived a stretch of more than six minutes with Jokic on the bench and Doncic on the floor at the beginning of the second quarter.Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
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And this kind of tension has been with the symbolic capitalists from the beginning.Sean Illing, Vox, 9 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near germ
Cite this Entry
“Germ.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germ. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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