vermin
/ˈvɜːmɪn/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɚmɪn] /ˈvɜːrmɪn/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɚmɪn] /ˈvər-mən How to pronounce vermin (audio)/ (ame, mw)
vermin — noun
1. small wild animals, birds, or insects that cause damage by destroying food, crop
small wild animals, birds, or insects that cause damage by destroying food, crops, or property, or that spread disease — examples include rats, mice, cockroaches, lice, and fleas
Rats and cockroaches are common vermin that spread disease in crowded cities.
vermin spread disease — subject + verb collocation
The landlord hired an exterminator to rid the apartment building of vermin.
In the old kitchen, Yara found vermin living behind the stove and under the sink.
Farmers consider rats and mice to be vermin because they destroy stored grain.
Felix set traps around the basement after noticing signs of vermin such as droppings.
- pests
broader in meaning; covers any annoying organism, including insects and weeds; less emotionally charged than vermin
- rodents
much narrower — only covers rats, mice, and similar gnawing mammals, not insects
- parasites
focuses on organisms that live on or inside another creature, rather than general crop/property destroyers
- beneficial insects
insects that help rather than harm crops or human health, e.g. bees and ladybirds
文法句型
vermin + plural verb
a type of vermin / a species of vermin
用法筆記
Vermin is an uncountable plural noun — you cannot say 'a vermin'. Instead use 'a species of vermin', 'a type of vermin', or the specific animal's name.
常見錯誤
2. a strongly offensive word used to describe a person or group that the speaker co
a strongly offensive word used to describe a person or group that the speaker considers dangerous, dishonest, or morally worthless — comparable to calling someone 'scum' or 'filth'; dehumanising and rare in polite speech
During the heated debate, the candidate called his opponents vermin and refused to apologise.
call someone vermin — derogatory usage pattern
Imani's grandmother taught her that referring to anyone as vermin was cruel and wrong.
referring to someone as vermin — offensive register
The newspaper article described the gang members as vermin, sparking criticism from readers.
In the novel, the dictator calls the refugees vermin moments before ordering their arrest.
Calling people vermin is not just rude — it can be a form of hate speech.
- scum
similar level of offensiveness; more common in everyday insults; implies moral filth rather than physical disgust
- lowlife
informal and insulting but less dehumanising; refers to a person with low moral standards
- filth
also dehumanising; compares people to dirt or garbage; similar register and offensiveness
- decent people
neutral opposite; refers to ordinary, morally good individuals
- upstanding citizens
positive phrase; describes people who are respected and law-abiding
文法句型
call/describe/dismiss [someone] as vermin
用法筆記
This sense is strongly dehumanising and is widely considered hate speech when directed at real people or groups. It is included here so that learners can recognise the word in context, not for active use. The primary context where learners will encounter it is historical writing, political rhetoric, or fiction.