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
Stewart Simonson, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2026
In the 21st century, the United States has experienced a scourge of chronic disease.
—Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 1 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
With new funding, America can continue to lead the historic effort to eliminate ancient scourges.
—Stewart Simonson, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2026
In the 21st century, the United States has experienced a scourge of chronic disease.
—Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 1 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
-
Mix the cream using the wire whip attachment.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Putting on the fedora and grabbing the whip — like, Jesus, that had to feel crazy.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Penn, in the film, played the evil nemesis of DiCaprio's Bob Ferguson.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Since 2002, about 20,000 Chiricahuan leopard frogs have been reintroduced in some 80 former habitats now cleared of their arch nemesis.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The family curse was alive and well.—
Jennifer Wolfgram,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Too much focus went on growing the club as a financial juggernaut and investing in the stadium, which went from being their savior to their curse.—
Joe Prince-Wright,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Chargers, meanwhile, take an offensive lineman to address the need that haunted them all last season after they were ravaged by injuries up front.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Buenos Aires, at the time, was ravaged by the disease, and Prager says that project was one of the most meaningful of his life.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Justin Cappos, a professor of computer science at New York University, who studies software supply-chain security, likens the attack to a typewriter hiding a second message in plain sight.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
21 Mar. 2026
-
As a main guideline, think about ribcage jeans as an opportunity to actually showcase your waist rather than hiding it.—
Dino Bonačić,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It's often adorned with wide straps, sleek zippers, or statement details to give the silhouette a distinctive finish while keeping the overall design streamlined.—
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The best-selling Dream Pairs Two-strap Low-block Heeled Sandals feature two slim, comfortable straps that mold to your foot over time—one at the top of the foot, and the other at the toes.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Virgil Wounded Horse, something of a vigilante, recounts the events of a tumultuous winter.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The film is an offbeat comedy following Cory, a lonely tech worker drawn into a quirky Los Angeles underground world of plant-loving vigilantes.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This terrain has already proven a bane to recent uncrewed lander attempts, including both missions by Intuitive Machines, which had landers tip after touchdown.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The Lakers arrived in Denver with a 17-5 record in games involving clutch time — the same situations that have been the bane of Denver’s existence since Jokic returned from a knee injury.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scourge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourge. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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