varmint
Americannoun
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Chiefly Southern and South Midland U.S.
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an objectionable or undesirable animal, usually predatory, as a coyote or bobcat.
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a despicable, obnoxious, or annoying person.
noun
Etymology
Origin of varmint
1530–40; variant of vermin (with regular outcome of Middle English ĕr before consonant ( argal 2, parson ) and parasitic t )
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His governing philosophy is spelled out on a prominently displayed poster that shows a lifeless varmint on a stretch of asphalt.
From New York Times • Jun. 17, 2022
He suspected the family dog, Shep, had picked a fight with some varmint.
From Science Magazine • Jan. 13, 2022
When the researchers look and see, they say, “Crikey! Man, what an ugly varmint — it wears a garment that’s spiky! Oh, me no likey.”
From Washington Post • Apr. 30, 2020
The auction site prohibits sellers on its marketplace from offering complete firearms of any kind, from varmint guns to Glocks.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2019
I hadn’t saved this varmint from a wolf to lose her to some cow disease.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
