rife

Very common or widespread, especially when something is bad or unwanted.

• Rumours were rife.
• Corruption is rife in the industry.
• Disease became rife among the crowded camps.

How to use it: rife in/among something (Speculation was rife among investors.)

Similar words: widespread, common, prevalent

Opposites: rare

Common phrases: corruption is rife, rife in something, rife among something

Containing a lot of something, usually something bad or unwanted.

• The town was rife with rumours.
• The company was rife with corruption.
• Their account of the events is rife with inconsistencies.

How to use it: rife with something (The report was rife with errors.)

Similar words: full, riddled, teeming

Common phrases: rife with something, rife with errors, rife with corruption

Existing in large numbers or amounts.

• Deer were rife in the woods.
• Wild berries are rife along these paths.
• Birds were rife throughout the valley that spring.

How to use it: rife in something (Wild flowers were rife in the valley.)

Similar words: plentiful, abundant, numerous

Opposites: scarce

Common phrases: rife in something, rife throughout something

In large amounts or numbers.

• Wild flowers grew rife beside the stream.
• Weeds spread rife across the abandoned garden.
• Bluebells once flourished rife on these shaded slopes.

Similar words: abundantly, plentifully

Opposites: sparsely

Common phrases: grow rife, spread rife