scourge

1 of 2

noun

ˈskərj 

ˈskȯrj, 

ˈsku̇rj

1

: whip

especially : one used to inflict pain or punishment

2

: an instrument of punishment or criticism

3

: a cause of wide or great affliction

scourge

2 of 2

verb

scourged; scourging

transitive verb

1

: flog, whip

2

a

: to punish severely

b

: afflict

c

: to drive as if by blows of a whip

d

: chastise

scourger noun

Synonyms of scourge

Noun

• whip
• strap

Verb

• ravage
• destroy
• devastate

Examples of scourge in a Sentence

Noun

a city ravaged by the scourge of unemployment

The disease continues to be a scourge in the developing world.

Verb

a neighborhood scourged by crime

The prisoner was scourged with a whip.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here's why one writer thinks its time to end the scourge of scared kids forced to sit on Santa's lap for a photo opp—for good. —Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 28 Nov. 2025

In a year marked by political vitriol in seemingly every conversation, a relentless scourge of political violence, and the highest-profile political assassination since 1968, Thanksgiving arrives just in time. —MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

Verb

McCarter also has several outstanding requests related to the open-air drug market and homelessness scourge at and around Mass and Cass, of which he’s been particularly outspoken about in recent months as a resident of a hot-spot spillover area in the South End, according to his lawsuit. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 12 Nov. 2025

These scourged the poor harder than anyone else. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French escorge, from escorger to whip, from Vulgar Latin *excorrigiare, from Latin ex- + corrigia thong, whip

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for scourge

• dirge
• merge
• purge
• serge
• splurge
• spurge
• sturge
• surge
• urge
• verge
• converge
• diverge

Kids Definition

scourge

1 of 2 noun

ˈskərj 

1

: whip entry 2 sense 1, lash

2

: someone or something that is an instrument of punishment or criticism

3

: affliction sense 2

scourge

2 of 2 verb

scourged; scourging

1

: to whip severely : flog

2

: to cause severe suffering to : devastate