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

This aligns with previous Fortune reporting on the scourge of shadow AI, as surveys show that workers at up to 90% of companies are using AI tools while hiding that usage from their IT departments. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025

Francesco Pacifico on the scourge of American tourists. —Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 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