This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, January 17, 2026 (42 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Saturday puzzles are the hardest of the week and themeless, so clues are often deliberately misleading.
Answer length: 5 squares
First letter
G _ _ _ _
First and last letters
G _ _ _ S
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About the answer
GERMS as a word: A pathogen: a pathogenic microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus; (biology) The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud, spore, or zygote.
GERMS has been an answer 3 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since January 1, 2026.
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