vermin

noun

ver·​min ˈvər-mən 

plural vermin

1

a

: small common harmful or objectionable animals (such as lice or fleas) that are difficult to control

b

: birds and mammals that prey on game

c

: animals that at a particular time and place compete (as for food) with humans or domestic animals

2

: an offensive person

Synonyms

• bastard
• beast
• bleeder [British]
• blighter [chiefly British]
• boor
• bounder
• bugger
• buzzard
• cad
• chuff
• churl
• clown
• creep
• cretin
• crud [slang]
• crumb [slang]
• cur
• dirtbag [slang]
• dog
• fink
• heel
• hound
• jerk
• joker
• louse
• lout
• pill
• rat
• rat fink
• reptile
• rotter
• schmuck [slang]
• scum
• scumbag [slang]
• scuzzball [slang]
• skunk
• sleaze
• sleazebag [slang]
• sleazeball [slang]
• slime
• slimeball [slang]
• slob
• snake
• so-and-so
• sod [chiefly British]
• stinkard
• stinker
• swine
• toad
• varmint

Examples of vermin in a Sentence

The room was crawling with roaches and other vermin.

the vermin who looted abandoned houses after the hurricane

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump has vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants, calling many of them rapists, vermin and murderers. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024

In recent years, the foundation has settled multiple lawsuits filed by tenants, including over a chronically broken elevator at the Madison Hotel and, last week, a class-action case at the Madison alleging pervasive mold, vermin, and plumbing and electrical issues. —Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024

Seniors living in rental housing in Detroit are dealing with mold infestation, vermin, lack of heat and inadequate security measures. —Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024

The French capital, considered the world’s most romantic city, has long tussled with vermin largely because of garbage piling up on street corners. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 23 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from verm "worm" (going back to Latin vermis) + -in, -ine, suffix with diminutive or pejorative value, borrowed from Italian -ino, diminutive suffix, going back to Latin -īnus, suffix of appurtenance — more at worm entry 1, -ine entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

vermin

noun

ver·​min ˈvər-mən 

plural vermin

: small common harmful or objectionable animals (as fleas or mice) that are difficult to get rid of

Etymology

Middle English vermin "small animal pests," from early French vermin (same meaning), derived from Latin vermis "worm" — related to vermicelli

Word Origin

The word vermin is used for any small harmful or annoying insect or animal that is difficult to get rid of or control. Fleas, lice, mice, rats, and even rabbits when they destroy gardens have been called vermin. However, the word vermin comes from a Latin word for a creature that is not usually thought of as troublesome. The word is vermis, meaning "worm." The word vermicelli, which English borrowed from Italian, can also be traced back to the Latin vermis. The Italians used this word for "thin spaghetti" because the strands look like "little worms," which is what vermicelli means literally.

Medical Definition

vermin

noun

ver·​min ˈvər-mən 

plural vermin

: small common harmful or objectionable animals (as lice or fleas) that are difficult to control