The term "cooties" typically refers to imaginary bugs that children use to tease or avoid contact with each other. However, there are several synonyms that can be used to describe this concept in different ways. One common alternative is "germs," which refers to the bacteria or viruses that can cause illness. Another synonym is "lurgies," which is a British slang term for any type of contagious infection. In some cases, "cooties" may also be used to represent something negative or undesirable, such as a bad attitude or personality trait. In these contexts, synonyms like "negativity" or "drama" may be appropriate.