rife
Spreading without check
Rife means widespread or prevalent, usually describing something undesirable: Corruption was rife in the department, The city was rife with rumors.
The word almost always appears with negative things—disease, crime, speculation, abuse.
Something rife is not just present but pervasive, suggesting conditions are saturated with it.
Existing across many places
- pervasivePresent throughout, inescapable
- ubiquitousPresent in all places
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
- endemicNative to one area
omnipresent · frequent · persistent · extensive · universal · general · constant · habitual
Gathering in large numbers
- overflowingExceeding capacity, spilling out
- brimmingFull to the top
- bustlingFull of energetic activity
- crowdedFilled beyond comfort
packed · thronged · flooded · overrun · saturated · congested · abuzz · humming
Rapid increase in quantity
- disseminationWide distribution of information
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- transmissionSending of information
circulation · contagion · epidemic · pandemic · outbreak · multiplication · permeation · escalation
Dishonest abuse of power
- rumorsUnconfirmed circulating stories
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- misconductImproper professional behavior
fraud · scandal · crime · disease · violence · inequality · injustice · discontent
widespread
Existing across many places
- pervasivePresent throughout, inescapable
- ubiquitousPresent in all places
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
endemic · omnipresent · frequent · persistent · extensive · universal · general · constant · habitual · mainstream
swarming
Gathering in large numbers
- overflowingExceeding capacity, spilling out
- brimmingFull to the top
- bustlingFull of energetic activity
crowded · packed · thronged · flooded · overrun · saturated · congested · abuzz · humming · heaving
proliferation
Rapid increase in quantity
- disseminationWide distribution of information
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
transmission · circulation · contagion · epidemic · pandemic · outbreak · multiplication · permeation · escalation · surge
corruption
Dishonest abuse of power
- rumorsUnconfirmed circulating stories
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
misconduct · fraud · scandal · crime · disease · violence · inequality · injustice · discontent · unrest
- fullnessfull, empty, half-full, filled, half-empty