vermin

This term carries a strong sense of disgust and contamination. When applied to animals, it suggests a plague-like infestation that threatens health or food supplies, evoking an image of swarming, unwanted creatures. In a social or political context, the word is used as a dehumanizing slur. It strips individuals of their humanity by equating them to pests, often serving as a precursor to systemic persecution or violence. Grammatically, vermin is a collective noun that functions as a plural; it does not have a singular form like "verminum" and is typically used with plural verbs.