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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Those ubiquitous ride companies have reduced the scourge of drunk drivers swerving on our roads and taking the lives of others.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 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
Ukraine has offered assistance to countries throughout the Gulf dealing with a scourge of Iranian drone attacks and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Saudi Arabia.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Those ubiquitous ride companies have reduced the scourge of drunk drivers swerving on our roads and taking the lives of others.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 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
-
Other activities will include chalk art, children’s activities, tomato plant and tree whip giveaways, food vendors and more, according to the release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Armed with a whip and possibly a dagger, she is also depicted chasing the leopard.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Magyar’s journey from an Orbán loyalist to his nemesis was swift.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The prosthetic arm belonging to Commandant Spangler (Daniel von Bargen), Francis' Marlin Academy nemesis, is also in the clutter.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the first story, a couple worry about how a possible family curse that began when an ancestor made a bargain to escape enslavement might affect their happy life.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
-
There are still deliveries of hate mail from conservative neighbors who disapprove of their lifestyle, and occasional drive-bys punctuated with curses yelled from car windows, but they’ve largely been accepted by the community.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fire had consumed the backside of the split-level home, ravaged the kids’ bedrooms and almost every corner of the home.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Florida’s season had been ravaged by injuries from the very beginning.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Children who give short answers, avoid eye contact, or seem overly eager to please may be hiding their true feelings.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
11 Apr. 2026
-
New York packs tons of it, and Mike Brown had no intention of hiding his hand against a potential playoff opponent.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The versatile, adjustable and detachable strap takes your bag from day to night.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The wide brim offers sun protection and adjustable chin straps promise a secure fit.—
Claire West,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On the surface, Goldhaber and Mazzei’s latest is a vigilante crime thriller about a content moderator (Barbie Ferreira) who is busy hunting a web-obsessed serial killer (Dacre Montgomery).—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2026
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Schreier also teased what might be in store for fans of the vigilante heroes.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Political instability has been a bane, with 32 governments taking office since 1990 and none of them completing a five-year term.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Elias Lindholm took an offensive zone tripping penalty – O-zone stick fouls have been the bane of the B’s season – and the Sabres cashed in on the power play.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scourge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourge. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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