1
as in whip
a long thin or flexible tool for striking
the museum display included a scourge, thumbscrews, and other notorious instruments of torture
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2
as in nemesis
one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense
the attorney general, who just happens to be a candidate for governor, is a self-proclaimed scourge of organized crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in curse
a source of harm or misfortune
the sheer ubiquity of food is proving to be the scourge of humanity, as evidenced by the obesity epidemic
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
barbarians scourged the countryside, leaving village after village burned to the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to whip
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
scourge the tree with a whip to loosen the bark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scourge
Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Mayor Brandon Johnson, who took office in 2023, lives on the West Side of Chicago, where shootings and other violence have been a scourge.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 9 Mar. 2023
While the kinds of extreme heat events like the wildfires that scourge many parts of the world in hot weather are still very rare in the UK, this report underlines how much temperature changes affect our daily lives—and are likely to do so more in the future.
—Cassie Werber, Quartz, 23 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Noun
First each member, in turn, would prostrate himself while the others, marching in a circle, stepped over him and struck him with their scourges.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Mayor Brandon Johnson, who took office in 2023, lives on the West Side of Chicago, where shootings and other violence have been a scourge.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Like its American rival, the Tiger was initially intended to scourge Soviet tank battalions, but was refashioned for multi-role capabilities.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 9 Mar. 2023
While the kinds of extreme heat events like the wildfires that scourge many parts of the world in hot weather are still very rare in the UK, this report underlines how much temperature changes affect our daily lives—and are likely to do so more in the future.
—Cassie Werber, Quartz, 23 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scourge
Noun
-
The wind whips, the vegetation snaps, the electrical towers howl.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Out-of-market games on YouTube’s Sunday Ticket service add up to another $522 for returning users who also want the RedZone whip-around show, though there have been many discounts made available.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This year, the landscape has been altered in their favor as their top nemesis, King Philip, recently dropped to Div.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Miami advanced as Lionel Messi’s two goals led a 3-1 home win over nemesis Orlando.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Now, the princess must gather enough strength from herself and her triplet brothers to undo a curse.—
Sydni Ellis,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
As rocks and curses flew from the street, bullets spat from the middle window on the south side of the house.—
Neal Rubin,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That’s what happened to 64-year-old retired nurse Donna Niebauer when, over the course of one terrifying night, Hurricane Helene ravaged her peaceful mountain community of Burnsville, North Carolina and cut off power for more than two months.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Yes, the Lions were bounced from the Divisional Round of the playoffs, but to be fair, they were absolutely ravaged by injuries, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Phillips died in a police shootout on Monday, after officers were alerted to a possible break-in at a farm goods store in Poipoi in the western Waikato district, near to where he was believed to have been hiding out with his kids, CNN, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and ABC News Australia reported.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Pep Guardiola is a tactile man who does not hide his expressive nature when speaking to his players.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The proof-of-concept research shows that a simple WiFi transmitter and receiver can measure heart rate with clinical-level accuracy without requiring any smartwatch, chest strap, or hospital monitor.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Carry it as a clutch or wear it over the shoulder with the attached chain strap.—
Melody Kazel,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Notably, Bernthal’s take on the vigilante was featured in two seasons of Netflix’s The Punisher before it was canceled in 2019.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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And in 2017, the title poem of my collection, Crossing the Border, satirized vigilante border patrols that hunt immigrants like animals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Inclement weather has long been the bane of festivals and outdoor tours, and differentiating between climate change and a stretch of bad storms can be tricky.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
-
In the first episode, my friend Anthony, who’s also a cameraman on the show, talks about vertical video being the bane of society.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scourge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourge. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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