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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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
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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
Steve Bloom, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
What kind of research? Finding new cancer treatments, halting the worldwide scourge of tuberculosis, identifying environmental factors like plastics that might cause disease, or finding vaccines for the next pandemic, to name a few.
—Dr. David M. Sack, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 9 Mar. 2023
Of all the fearful diseases that scourge the human race, this ranks among those that are justly feared most.
—Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Noun
The scourge of heroin use by Black Americans in cities like New York in the 1970s sparked Richard Nixon’s War of Drugs.
—Steve Bloom, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
What kind of research? Finding new cancer treatments, halting the worldwide scourge of tuberculosis, identifying environmental factors like plastics that might cause disease, or finding vaccines for the next pandemic, to name a few.
—Dr. David M. Sack, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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
Of all the fearful diseases that scourge the human race, this ranks among those that are justly feared most.
—Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scourge
Noun
-
Cornyn, a former majority whip, has been less of a cheerleader but was key to getting Trump’s agenda through the Senate in his first term and is central to the looming battle in the upper chamber to secure the president’s budget bill by July 4.—
Maria Recio,
Austin American Statesman,
3 July 2025
-
The current theory is that as the planet amasses energy during its orbit, some of that is redirected in waves along the star’s magnetic field lines like someone cracking a whip.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Alabama as the nemesis, from the Blackout game to the 2012 SEC championship, to second-and-26, then finally beating Alabama after Kelee Ringo’s pick-six … only to lose twice more to the Crimson Tide.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
-
Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luthor, played with quicksilver menace by Nicholas Hoult, is now a fascist tech billionaire — the CEO of LutherCorp — who has his tentacles everywhere: in industry, the U.S. government, and foreign nations.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Ancient 'pharaoh's curse' fungus shows promise in killing cancer cells.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2025
-
The song breaks Booth's life-defining generational curse.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Lowering the cost of eggs, which spiked in recent years as an avian flu outbreak ravaged American flocks, was one of President Donald Trump's key campaign promises in the lead-up to the 2024 election.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
-
Those include a string of deadly tornadoes that swept through Kentucky in May, and some of the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in January.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Eight airports in different states appeared to have dropped the requirement, in place since 2006 after a British man in 2001 attempted to destroy an airliner with explosives hidden in a shoe.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 July 2025
-
The Transportation Security Administration adopted the no-shoes rule in 2006 after a British man boarded a 2001 American Airlines flight with explosives hidden in a shoe.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Polar's strap has a comfortable buckle connector and silicone dots to keep it in place.—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
-
How did the woman say she was held by Wood? The shed where the woman was held was locked with chains, with bricks placed there to further confine her, while her ankle was tied down by a tow strap, according to charging documents.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Following the 1876 election, the parties struck a deal to remove those forces, allowing vigilante and southern white authorities to reinstate control over Black southerners.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
19 June 2025
-
Morales continued to say there was no threat to the community and is encouraging residents to stay vigilante.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
The incredibly convoluted and varied minimum bag limits across different airlines have been the bane of low-cost European travel since carry-on charges were first introduced in 2005 by the now-defunct Flybe airline.—
Duncan Madden,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
Those pernicious and incomparably sticky, handheld messes that somehow became THE fireside confectionary concoction without which a camping trip would be incomplete are the bane of my existence.—
Caleb Harris,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scourge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourge. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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