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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
History will castigate their cultish devotion to Trump far worse than any of Newsom’s attempts to counter that scourge.
—Gustavo Arellano, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025
Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 9 Mar. 2023
While the kinds of extreme heat events like the wildfires that scourge many parts of the world in hot weather are still very rare in the UK, this report underlines how much temperature changes affect our daily lives—and are likely to do so more in the future.
—Cassie Werber, Quartz, 23 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Noun
This country must attack the scourge of mass shootings on every front.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
History will castigate their cultish devotion to Trump far worse than any of Newsom’s attempts to counter that scourge.
—Gustavo Arellano, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 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
While the kinds of extreme heat events like the wildfires that scourge many parts of the world in hot weather are still very rare in the UK, this report underlines how much temperature changes affect our daily lives—and are likely to do so more in the future.
—Cassie Werber, Quartz, 23 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scourge
Noun
-
The wind whips, the vegetation snaps, the electrical towers howl.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Out-of-market games on YouTube’s Sunday Ticket service add up to another $522 for returning users who also want the RedZone whip-around show, though there have been many discounts made available.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In the early window, my Dirty Birds were down three to our arch-nemesis, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.—
Coy Wire,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
-
His nemesis Toby returned nine episodes later.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Now, the princess must gather enough strength from herself and her triplet brothers to undo a curse.—
Sydni Ellis,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
As rocks and curses flew from the street, bullets spat from the middle window on the south side of the house.—
Neal Rubin,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On the news, Ukraine was ravaged.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In November 1996, a fire ravaged the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.—
Ray Padilla,
The Courier-Journal,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In corroborating much of the testimony Pentagon intelligence official David Grusch offered in July 2023, Elizondo also accused the Department of Defense of hiding its UFO programs from Congress while misappropriating funds to operate them.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Coel, the boundary-pushing revelation from I May Destroy You, is a perfect foil, hiding Lori’s feelings behind her deadpan delivery, unblinking sphinx-like stare and wary body language but poised to shoot barbs when the moment calls for them.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Apple is also offering a cross-body strap for the iPhone Air.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Ford’s pump has long been a staple in evening lineups, but the penny-strap detail keeps its proportions strict rather than delicate.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Notably, Bernthal’s take on the vigilante was featured in two seasons of Netflix’s The Punisher before it was canceled in 2019.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
-
And in 2017, the title poem of my collection, Crossing the Border, satirized vigilante border patrols that hunt immigrants like animals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Inclement weather has long been the bane of festivals and outdoor tours, and differentiating between climate change and a stretch of bad storms can be tricky.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
-
In the first episode, my friend Anthony, who’s also a cameraman on the show, talks about vertical video being the bane of society.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scourge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourge. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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