SCOURGING Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

scourging

verb

present participle of scourge

as in ravaging

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

as in whipping

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scourging

Verb

Julien De Rosa | Afp | Getty Images Firefighters stand by their vehicle as the battle a forest fire in Saint-Jean-d’Illac, some 30km from Bordeaux, on July 26, 2026 as a wildfire has been ravaging the forest north of the Arcachon Basin (Gironde).

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 27 July 2026
France’s interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said the wildfire ravaging large swaths of southwestern France was heading toward the city of Bordeaux.

— Caroline Blumberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of ravaging

Verb

Iguanas usually go viral for other reasons Iguanas are usually quick-moving and run away from their would-be captors with their long tails whipping behind them.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 July 2026
The attorney questioned whether a person would be able to smell alcohol at the same time that wind generated by 18-wheelers and other vehicles whipping by on the highway was blowing, as was occurring during the officer’s time with Hampton.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
But the Pentagon’s youthful set of avid desk-warriors forget that big hurricanes and regional weather events regularly disrupt waterfront facilities on the Gulf and East coasts, destroying worker housing and permanently peeling away shipbuilders.

— Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Pape Sarr was on the pitch for Senegal’s devastating extra-time defeat by Belgium at that same stage, but joins Bergvall as a Spurs player who had little impact on a tournament where his career — and market value — could really have used a jolt.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Following a succession of heat waves that started even before the summer, wildfires have raged across France in recent weeks, devastating large swaths of land amid record temperatures and dry weather.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Definition of devastating

Verb

Hochul is speeding public sector hiring to provide government services more effectively, while Mamdani is slashing red tape for small businesses to help working people thrive.

— Ryder Kessler, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
Related Articles Now, Adidas is getting ready to turn its attention to fall, but not before slashing prices on some of its top footwear, clothing and accessories online.

— Tim Chan, Footwear News, 25 July 2026

Definition of slashing

Verb

Koivun launched himself into the lead at TPC Twin Cities by lashing a 305-yard approach shot to 12 feet on the par-5 12th hole.

— Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 28 July 2026
But during his visit, the fifth in line to the British throne incited more controversy by lashing out publicly after a High Court judge delivered a devastating ruling in his lawsuit against the Daily Mail.

— Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 July 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

So, that is one gig at a completely unnecessary addition to the sports calendar, created by corporate interests for the sole intention of flogging products to people who do not really like sport… and another at the Enhanced Games.

— Matt Slater, New York Times, 23 May 2026
In an even more meta moment, Amazon interrupted its own Upfront with actual ads with Summer House star Paige DeSorbo flogging certain items to an increasingly frustrated audience.

— Peter White, Deadline, 11 May 2026

Definition of flogging

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.

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scourges

scourging

scouring

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“Scourging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourging. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scourging

verb

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