vermin

UK: /ˈvɜː^rmɪn/ US: /ˈvɝmɪn/ ,(vûr′min)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ver•min /ˈvɜrmɪn/   n. [plural* used with a plural verb]

1. Zoology harmful or objectionable animals thought of as a group, as flies, lice, cockroaches, and rats.
2. Zoology animals that prey upon game.
3. obnoxious persons thought of as a group.

ver•min•ous, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ver•min  (vûr′min), n., pl. ver•min. 

1. Zoology noxious, objectionable, or disgusting animals collectively, esp. those of small size that appear commonly and are difficult to control, as flies, lice, bedbugs, cockroaches, mice, and rats.
2. an objectionable or obnoxious person, or such persons collectively.
3. Zoology animals that prey upon game, as coyotes or weasels.

• Vulgar Latin *verminum, *vermina, based on Latin vermin-; see verminate
• Anglo-French, Middle French vermin, vermine
• Middle English vermyne 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vermin / ˈvɜːmɪn/ noun

1. (functioning as plural) small animals collectively, esp insects and rodents, that are troublesome to humans, domestic animals, etc
2. ( -min) an unpleasant, obnoxious, or dangerous person

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French vermine, from Latin vermis a worm