scourged

verb

past tense of scourge
1
as in ravaged
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action barbarians scourged the countryside, leaving village after village burned to the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whipped
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scourged These scourged the poor harder than anyone else. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scourged
  1. ravaged
  2. whipped
  3. destroyed
  4. lashed
  5. devastated
  6. slashed
  7. flogged
  8. slapped
Verb
  • The last three Republican presidents have left the country in the economic and war-ravaged mess that is the standard Republican modus operandi.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026
  • Three years later, the Dixie fire ravaged nearly a million acres.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of ravaged
Verb
  • Most notable was his thin satin-like scarf whipped eccentrically over one shoulder, like a Milanese gentleman oozing sprezzatura, further cementing himself as one of the most glamorous soccer players of our time.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • In Tokyo, the couple had an adults-only date night at Daikoku Parking Area, where the F1 driver whipped around in a Ferrari F40 with Kardashian in the passenger seat.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • But just like all other houses in Collins First Nation, her home was completely destroyed by the fires.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • The 1951 Flood claimed lives, destroyed homes and businesses, and scattered one of Kansas City’s largest Hispanic communities.
    — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Definition of destroyed
Verb
  • Before the movie was even released, Roberts lashed out at Nolte in The New York Times.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
  • The sun lashed everyone who arrived — some voluntarily, others hooked and lowered like cattle into the mines.
    — Cristina Dorador, The Dial, 14 July 2026
Definition of lashed
Verb
  • In a separate GoFundMe page, Castillo’s family said they were devastated by his death.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
  • The new flight comes as American Airlines twice daily direct flights between MIA and Caracas remain suspended following multiple earthquakes on June 24 that devastated Venezuela’s capital.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of devastated
Verb
  • Iran struck a pumping station on Saudi’s pipeline to the Red Sea in April, which slashed throughput by 700,000 bpd.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • During O’Neill’s time at the helm, Kennedy slashed the number of diseases covered in the pediatric immunization schedule, altered the CDC website to include inaccurate information and packed a key CDC advisory committee with vaccine skeptics.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of slashed
Verb
  • The same day that the nanny allegedly beat Walter, other caregivers slapped and flogged his siblings, including with shoes and wooden sticks.
    — Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • The media flagged and flogged it for AI incompetence.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
Definition of flogged
Verb
  • The younger sons were in their attic room, the oldest out somewhere, wooing the Guidry girl or playing cards with her brothers—when a stronger gust slapped the house.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
  • Shia also revealed that another one of his former castmates, Weaver, allegedly slapped his father on the set of Holes.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of slapped

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Cite this Entry

“Scourged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourged. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on scourged

Nglish: Translation of scourged for Spanish Speakers

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