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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Relevance
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
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Cambodia has failed to dismantle much of its online scam industry despite a yearlong crackdown that authorities said would eliminate the scourge, according to an Amnesty International report that challenges official claims of success.
—
Philip Heijmans,
Bloomberg,
8 June 2026
Dorothy Wickenden,
The New Yorker,
30 Oct. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Noun
Recall those hundred or so volunteers who put their own bodies on the line to advance the possibility—absolutely not the certainty—of eliminating a brutal scourge, HIV/AIDS.
—
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Cambodia has failed to dismantle much of its online scam industry despite a yearlong crackdown that authorities said would eliminate the scourge, according to an Amnesty International report that challenges official claims of success.
—
Philip Heijmans,
Bloomberg,
8 June 2026
Verb
The tragedy inspired a poem by twelve-year-old Benjamin Franklin and a funeral oration by the scourging Puritan clergyman Cotton Mather.
—
Dorothy Wickenden,
The New Yorker,
30 Oct. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scourge
Noun
-
During enslavement, physical violence, such as being beaten with whips, was used to control Black bodies.
-
The blazer featured two wide lapels outlined in a whip stitch and stacked pocket flaps on each side of body.
Noun
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Fans shrieked and hollered as every player in the realmwide war — Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Prince Daemon (Matt Smith), the Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint) and his nemesis Lohar (Abigail Thorn) — popped up.
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Now, his old nemesis will carry his name.
Noun
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The pressure that comes with ending a beloved TV show is both a blessing and a curse.
-
Their greatest gifts are their biggest curses.
Verb
-
The tree’s limbs were lopped off in the wake of January 2025’s Eaton fire, which ravaged Altadena and part of Pasadena, but all these months after the fire, there’s new growth on the tree.
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Matthew Tkachuk, who has been a franchise-altering player since Florida acquired him in July 2022, has already won twice with the Panthers in 2024 and 2025 before injuries ravaged Florida’s 2025-26 season.
Verb
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In fact, some are doing little to hide their skepticism – and, in some cases, outright frustration – with the memorandum of understanding, which White House officials hope to spin into a more lasting peace agreement and nuclear accord.
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The script hides serious moral and ethical conversations about fame, political violence, and powerful institutions amongst jokes about hashbrowns.
Noun
-
The cordovan line revisited the brand’s shoemaking heritage with models that included derby shoes, loafers, monk straps and Chelsea boots.
-
It’s made of soft pebbled leather with a fabric lining, and the adjustable strap lengthens to 22 inches to get the best fit.
Noun
-
The first film, starring Robert Pattinson in the titular role, sees Bruce Wayne navigate his second year as Gotham's resident vigilante when a serial killer goes after several prominent public figures.
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For a storyteller whose works revolve around complicated or slippery romances, life-altering revelations, and fateful everyday encounters, the brutality of the mafia and New York City street vigilantes feels far removed from her own.
Noun
-
Now, decades later, weekday lunches have become the bane of my existence.
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Thankfully, the in-room fax machines that were the bane of Bob Harris’ existence are long gone, too.
Cite this Entry
“Scourge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourge. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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