“Germ, as of an idea” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.KERNEL is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Germ, as of an idea”. It was last seen in the puzzle of November 12, 2026, where it runs at 30 Down and fills 6 squares. It crosses 6 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.