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

My number one priority is curbing the overdevelopment that is ravaging Tavares.

— Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
For weeks an autoimmune disease doctors couldn’t explain had been attacking his thyroid and ravaging his intestines.

— Joe Manganiello, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of ravaging

Verb

In September 2022, Brandon Sanchez, a member of the show cast, documented a riding lesson in an email to management and HR, describing Garcia berating riders and whipping a Friesian horse for an extended period.

— Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
By far, the easiest way to decongest my pores is whipping out one of the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads and giving my T-zone a very proper run-through.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

After destroying much of Gaza and killing tens of thousands of Palestinians, Israel has regained military control of nearly 70 percent of the strip.

— Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2026
But if firms lean on AI to cut lower-level work, the risk is destroying the very avenue of apprenticeship that produces future senior associates and managers.

— Tim Brackney, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Rice takes curious young readers on a tour of the natural world that’s hiding in plain sight, focusing on the ways that plants and animals communicate and connect.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
February 19 – March 20 An annoying little problem could be hiding a surprisingly easy fix.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

The earthquake comes less than two months after a border region of Nepal and Tibet was struck by devastating flash flooding that left hundreds of people dead and destroyed several communities.

— CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been fighting since April 2023, devastating large parts of the country and threatening stability along its borders.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of devastating

Verb

In 2023, the company imposed a $10 price hike in high-demand areas, bringing the fee to $120 per month, while slashing costs in areas with ample capacity.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
The government is also negotiating next year's budget with parliament, with an aim of slashing spending to bring down the country's deficit.

— Sean Conlon,Justina Lee,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of slashing

Verb

Most of the students were accused of minor offenses, like making threats, using cannabis vapes or lashing out at classmates or teachers, the analysis found.

— Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026
More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.

— Rosie Cima, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

The Taliban bans filming in public areas where flogging as well as stoning takes place, but MA says that individuals who oppose the practice have been discretely filming these events, then posting the video.

— Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026
Rubin, who has built a business flogging sports merchandising and collectibles, is renowned for his annual White Party in the exclusive Hamptons, near New York City.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 5 Sep. 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of scourging

verb

Example Sentences

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