Synonyms of scourge

scourge 1 of 2

noun

ˈskərj 

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

• whip
• strap
• cane
• lash
• baton
• flogger
• switch
• bat
• knout
• birch
• crop
• hickory
• rattan
• bullwhip
• quirt
• bludgeon
• blacksnake
• cudgel
• rawhide
• bastinado
• billy
• flail
• billy club
• cowhide
• staff
• cat-o'-nine-tails
• club
• nightstick

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

• nemesis
• vigilante
• avenger
• punisher
• chastiser
• castigator
• revenger
• redresser
• righter
• requiter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• redeemer
• vindicator
• ransomer

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

• curse
• nemesis
• bane
• threat
• menace
• affliction
• danger
• risk
• hazard
• peril
• trouble
• hex
• jinx
• pitfall
• snag
• hoodoo
• catch
• booby trap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benefit
• support
• assistance
• aid
• relief
• advantage
• blessing
• gift
• good
• help
• boon
• windfall
• godsend
• comfort
• felicity
• protection
• joy
• pleasure
• manna
• safety
• defense
• security
• delight
• shield
• solace
• consolation
• armor
• guard
• safeguard

scourge

2 of 2

verb

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

• ravage
• destroy
• devastate
• ruin
• plunder
• eradicate
• sack
• wreck
• desolate
• extirpate
• obliterate
• loot
• despoil
• wipe out
• strip
• pillage
• overwhelm
• waste
• annihilate
• expunge
• harry
• vaporize
• decimate
• extinguish
• shatter
• total
• foray
• maraud
• smash
• demolish
• mow
• overthrow
• wrack
• nuke
• overrun
• rub out
• raze
• overpower
• crush

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recover
• restore
• rehabilitate
• redeem
• patch
• fix
• repair
• mend
• recondition
• revamp

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

• whip
• hide
• slash
• leather
• lash
• flick
• hit
• tan
• flagellate
• slap
• whale
• thrash
• flail
• switch
• cut
• horsewhip
• birch
• flog
• smack
• knock
• bat
• punch
• spank
• lick
• maul
• cowhide
• rawhide
• bang
• strap
• pound
• whack
• cane
• swipe
• clip
• beat
• knout
• quirt
• smite
• clap
• swat
• club
• box
• cudgel
• thump
• pelt
• touch up
• slug
• crack
• rough
• clout
• pummel
• bludgeon
• clobber
• slate
• sock
• hammer
• blackjack
• lam
• drub
• bop
• bust
• buffet
• work over
• thwack
• fustigate
• bash
• paddle
• batter
• belt
• slog
• wallop
• cuff
• paste
• mangle
• whup
• lather
• lambaste
• lace
• bung
• whop
• thresh
• pistol-whip
• belabor
• pommel
• baste
• fib
• tromp

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scourge

Noun

The scourge of Steve Spurrier Spurrier took too many verbal jabs to list here and took special glee in beating the Dawgs, never forgiving them for beating his Florida Gators in his 1966 senior season, ruining their SEC championship hopes. — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

The first is that the scourge of terrorism has been a horrible piece of our history for the past, really, 50 years. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

Sylvia scourges herself with an intensity that would make hairshirted flagellants seem soft. — Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2024

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