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
  • Efforts to bring the outbreak under control — from limited public gatherings to social distancing and airport closures — have disrupted life in the six affected provinces, particularly Ituri, which has been ravaged by rebel violence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In a world that’s been ravaged by a virus, with many living on the skids, survivors face roaming scavengers called Reapers.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ravaged
Verb
  • Deploying everything from pickled green strawberries and fresh peas to whipped labneh with Banyul vinegar glaze, artful Viennoiserie evokes more than a little whimsy that spans sweet and savory.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • If a recipe calls for 1 cup (unwhipped) whipping cream, substitute 2 cups whipped dessert topping, such as Cool Whip.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • Glutathione was offered to firefighters during recent blazes that destroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Spokane, Washington.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • If satellites supporting communications or ISR were damaged or destroyed, a faster and less expensive launch system could theoretically allow replacement spacecraft to be deployed more quickly.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of destroyed
Verb
  • Workers lashed the broad branches together with steel cables and chains.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The fight intensified Sunday when Mark Goldfeder, head of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, lashed out at Bonta and suggested California’s top law enforcement official was doing Ruffalo’s bidding by filing the antitrust lawsuit.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of lashed
Verb
  • The flash flood which has devastated settlements in northern Nepal was caused by an earthquake triggering a large landslide which blocked the Bhote Koshi river, according to Nepal’s foreign minister Shishir Khanal.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In season one, Alice (Nicola Walker) is devastated when her best friend Steve (Jemaine Clement) starts dating her 26-year-old daughter Izzy.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastated
Verb
  • On the night of Thursday, August 30, the skies of London slashed with lightning, while two dock fires cast a red glow over the city.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Her brown leather jacket was pierced with 60 stab wounds, and her throat had been slashed nearly ear to ear.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 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
  • While outlining the details of Clancy's suicide attempt, Reddington slapped a quarter on the table and addressed the prosecutors in what appeared to be a direct challenge to the state.
    — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Over the years, the United States has slapped Iran with countless sanctions targeting its banking system, shipping companies, oil industry and military.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 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 29 Aug. 2026.

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