varmint

noun

ˈvär-mənt How to pronounce varmint (audio)
Definition of varmintnext
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others a seedy saloon that attracts the most low-down, dirty varmints in town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of varmint One subset of varmint rounds are cartridges that don't use bullets. — David Szondy april 19, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026 The dog, unable to climb after the varmint, stood on his haunches with his front paws resting on the tree and howled loudly. — Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 At the time, wolves were still considered predatory varmints to be shot from airplanes, trapped and snared for $100 bounty and whatever hides would bring. — Al Wolter, Outdoor Life, 10 Jan. 2025 Jett Rink was a really malevolent varmint, and kind of swarthy and dark. — Jeff Conway, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for varmint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for varmint
  1. dog
  2. jerk
  3. skunk
  4. clown
  5. vermin
  6. rat
  7. snake
  8. joker
Noun
  • The local community has also rallied to help the family by delivering meals, caring for their kids and walking their dog.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Four months later, he was seen last weekend walking dogs, taking walks, enjoying a cup of coffee in a garage, and even stopping to sift through neighborhood trash items on the side of the street.
    — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • The latter accidentally does happen, which leads to power struggles between the bigoted jerk and our trio of heroines.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Duffy, for his part, came across as a real jerk at times, but surprisingly charming at others, with a half-nerd, half-jock mien—sweepy hair, big glasses, a megawatt smile—that put me in mind of a Wisconsin Sam Seaborn.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • However, during this process, the skunk was able to bite the goats.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The baby goats were too young for vaccination and were bitten by a skunk that was found in their separate pen, the petting zoo said.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of skunk
Noun
  • But my favorite Tim Curry performance will always be Pennywise, the clown in Tommy Lee Wallace’s 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It, which, compared to Andy Muschietti’s mega popular pair of films, is modest, even a little lame.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Curry, who died Tuesday at 80, made a gleefully evil turn as a clown that sparked nightmares for legions of Gen X and millennial viewers that continue to haunt to this day.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of clown
Noun
  • Homeless encampments, piles of trash, vermin, and car break-ins have bedeviled the 4000 block of Babcock Avenue in Studio City since the property was abandoned, said neighbor Clint Ledsworth.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • How corpulent is this list of filth, vermin and bad food decisions?
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of vermin
Noun
  • There were swarms of flies and numerous rats at, near or on the bodies.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But human colonization several hundred years ago introduced predators such as cats and rats that wiped out most of the kakapo.
    — Adela Suliman, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of rat
Noun
  • Long lines snake toward bars selling the tournament’s speciality cocktail, and a David Chang stall cooks elevated chicken tenders.
    — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than killing the snakes found on its property, Cat Haven relocates them to areas farther from the cats, according to Anderson.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of snake
Noun
  • The jokers Toth and Jackson, bless them, keep things endearing and funny.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • At some point, all these jokers need to sit down and stop auditioning for attention long enough to actually do the jobs they were elected or appointed to do.
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of joker

Browse Nearby Words

varlets
varmint
varmints
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Varmint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/varmint. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All