vermin

noun
  1. Small animals or insects that are harmful or annoying to humans, crops, or livestock, often considered pests. noun
    The farmer set traps to catch the vermin that were destroying his crops.
    The old house was infested with vermin, making it uninhabitable.
  2. People perceived as despicable and causing problems for society, often used in a derogatory sense. noun
    The dictator referred to his political opponents as vermin.
    In the novel, the protagonist is determined to rid the city of the vermin that have taken over.