varmint

noun

var·​mint ˈvär-mənt 

1

: an animal considered a pest

specifically : one classed as vermin and unprotected by game law

2

: a contemptible person : rascal

broadly : person, fellow

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
• vermin

Examples of varmint in a Sentence

rats, mice, and other varmints

The sheriff in the movie gets revenge on the dirty varmint who killed his brother.

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone who even believes in a safe zone these days is living in a dream world, and should probably resort to more drastic measures to remove the weeds and varmints from their heads. —Bob Lorentson, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2024

That is if dogs or varmints haven’t gotten there first, tearing open the bags and leaving the contents strewn across people’s yards. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024

But every spring, seeds of hope grow into flowers and vegetables of joy in a gardener’s head, replacing the weeds and assorted varmints that took up residence there in the previous season. —Bob Lorentson, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2024

Heck, it’s even offered in most predator/varmint rigs. —Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

variant of vermin (with regular late Middle English opening of tautosyllabic er to ar and parasitic t)

First Known Use

circa 1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

varmint

noun

var·​mint ˈvär-mənt 

1

: an animal that is considered a pest

2

: an unlikable person : rascal