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 settlers have ravaged Palestinian villages as the Israeli government and military look the other way, if not outright condone the violence.
    — Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Archaeologists in England have uncovered new remains at one of the country's oldest and largest medieval leprosy hospitals, hundreds of years after the disease ravaged communities across Britain.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of ravaged
Verb
  • Brown became the leader of the House Trade Working Group, a caucus of Democratic representatives opposed to free-trade agreements who whipped votes on those deals.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Fire crews scrambled late Saturday as fierce winds whipped flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and into the surrounding rural area.
    — Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • Both the rocket and the camera were destroyed after crashing into the Earth at a speed of about 340 miles per hour.
    — Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Cities outside Paris have been hit hard by the unrest, including Limoges where a fire nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroyed
Verb
  • The snake tried to circle and squeeze, but the rat lashed with her claws and teeth.
    — Madeline ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • News of the briefing leaked, and the senators lashed out at the FBI, saying their efforts to scrutinize the Biden family had been discredited and falsely linked to Russian disinformation.
    — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of lashed
Verb
  • Some were devastated and expressed hope a new company could rescue the venture so life at sea can continue.
    — Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • But Trump’s termination of electric-vehicle tax credits, for both consumers and manufacturers, has devastated the plant.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of devastated
Verb
  • Butner slashed $30,000 off his asking price, but that generated only one offer, which fell through.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • While Rayonier has been silent about its outlook, analysts slashed EBITDA estimates.
    — Sebastien Chasse, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of slashed
Verb
  • She has not been flogged but spent long periods in solitary confinement.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • She hasn’t been flogged, but spent long periods in solitary confinement.
    — Amir-Hussein Radjy, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of flogged
Verb
  • Public support among Americans has plummeted, and partners in Europe and elsewhere have slapped sanctions on Israel.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • According to an affidavit for an arrest warrant, Gilder also attempted to leave with a ring, which was slapped out of his possession and recovered at the scene of the robbery.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 2026.

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