scourge

1 a long thin or flexible tool for striking the museum display included a scourge, thumbscrews, and other notorious instruments of torture Synonyms of scourge flogger, lash, whip, switchWords Related to scourge birch, blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, cowhide, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, rawhide, strap; bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, flail, nightstick, staff

2 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 of scourge avenger, castigator, chastiser, punisher, nemesis, vigilanteWords Related to scourge revenger; redresser, righter; requiterNear Antonyms of scourge ransomer, redeemer, vindicator

3 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 of scourge affliction, curse, nemesis, baneWords Related to scourge hex, hoodoo, jinx; danger, hazard, menace, peril, risk, threat, trouble; booby trap, catch, pitfall, snagNear Antonyms of scourge advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support; comfort, consolation, solace; delight, joy, pleasure; armor, defense, guard, protection, safeguard, safety, security, shieldAntonyms of scourge benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall

1 to bring destruction to (something) through violent action barbarians scourged the countryside, leaving village after village burned to the ground Synonyms of scourge destroy, devastate, ruin, ravageWords Related to scourge despoil, foray, harry, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, sack, strip; annihilate, desolate, eradicate, expunge, extinguish, extirpate, nuke, obliterate, rub out, shatter, smash, total, vaporize, waste, wipe out, wrack, wreck; decimate, mow; demolish, raze; crush, overpower, overrun, overthrow, overwhelmNear Antonyms of scourge recondition, recover, redeem, rehabilitate, restore; fix, mend, patch, repair, revamp

2 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible scourge the tree with a whip to loosen the bark Synonyms of scourge birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, whip, slash, switch, tan, thrash, whaleWords Related to scourge knout, quirt, strap; cut; flick, touch up; blackjack, cane, club, cudgel, fustigate; pistol-whip; bang, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, cuff, hit, knock, lam, paste, punch, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thwack, wallop, whack; bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, bludgeon, buffet, bung, drub, fib [British], hammer, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lather, lick, mangle, maul, paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, rough, slate, slog, thresh, thump, tromp, whop (or whap), whup, work over