Advanced and Proficiency Vocabulary for Exams(e.g.GRE, Banks, Civil Services, SAT / LSAT). For IELTS/TOEFL, and everyday spoken vocabulary, go to our Spoken Vocabulary Database.
something unpleasant that occurs frequently
- How to Memorize
- rife - widespread
- Analysis
Something that is ‘rife’ is excessively abundant. This formal word tends to be used for negative things that are widespread or prevalent, like crime, greed, corruption, etc., except when expressing rampant rumours or speculation, which can be both positive and negative in nature.
Exam DB Spoken DB Other Synonyms rampant prevalent, abundant, Antonyms scarce, infrequent, deficient, - Example(s)
Corruption is rife in that department. It needs somebody with strength and integrity to go in and weed it out.
Speculation about who would take over the company was rife in the office for weeks leading up to the announcement.
With violent crime rife in our major cities, we need the police to crack down on gang activities.
