scourge

1 of 2

noun

ˈskərj 

ˈskȯrj,

ˈsku̇rj

1

: whip

especially : one used to inflict pain or punishment

2

: an instrument of punishment or criticism

3

: a cause of wide or great affliction

scourge

2 of 2

verb

scourged; scourging

transitive verb

1

: flog, whip

2

a

: to punish severely

b

: afflict

c

: to drive as if by blows of a whip

d

: chastise

scourger noun

Synonyms

Noun

• flogger
• lash
• switch
• whip

Verb

• destroy
• devastate
• ravage
• ruin

Examples of scourge in a Sentence

Noun

a city ravaged by the scourge of unemployment

The disease continues to be a scourge in the developing world.

Verb

a neighborhood scourged by crime

The prisoner was scourged with a whip.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The scourge of measles was once thought to be a thing of the past. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Voters legalized recreational marijuana in California in 2016, but Dicus, the sheriff, said illicit marijuana grows have been a scourge in areas of the San Bernardino County desert, as well as other places. —Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French escorge, from escorger to whip, from Vulgar Latin *excorrigiare, from Latin ex- + corrigia thong, whip

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

scourge

1 of 2 noun

ˈskərj 

1

: whip entry 2 sense 1, lash

2

: someone or something that is an instrument of punishment or criticism

3

: affliction sense 2

scourge

2 of 2 verb

scourged; scourging

1

: to whip severely : flog

2

: to cause severe suffering to : devastate