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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Relevance
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
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Things changed when Royal Navy surgeon James Lind set out to see what could be used to treat scurvy, the scourge of sailors for thousands of years.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 18 Jan. 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 Keystone Kops known as the Massachusetts State Police are on the case, and are determined to rid Norfolk County once and for all of the criminal scourge of… rubber duckies.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Things changed when Royal Navy surgeon James Lind set out to see what could be used to treat scurvy, the scourge of sailors for thousands of years.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 18 Jan. 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
-
He was accused of attacking police officers with bear spray and a metal whip.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Think Indiana Jones, with the whip and fedora, setting off on a daring quest for treasure or profits, in this case.—
B.D. Dalton,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
In one undercover video, which was recorded by Solis in Madigan’s office a few days after his No. 1 political nemesis, Republican Bruce Rauner, lost his reelection bid in November 2018, Madigan seemed positively giddy to have vanquished his longtime foe.—
Megan Crepeau,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
-
Unbeknownst to Kaya and Elsbeth, Wagner does his bit for justice, urging the new-to-us Captain Kershaw to reopen the baseball bat murder case that made nemeses of Elsbeth and Judge Crawford.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Glamour is a gift and a curse as Venus and Neptune align.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
1 Feb. 2025
-
Google / Ars Technica A cathartic curse eliminates the AI Overview in the results.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The case has particular resonance in the wake of massive wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area last month, killing at least 29 people and destroying more than 16,000 structures.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacramento Bee,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The benefit concert, which was organized by Lindsey Hartman in response to the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in January, also featured performances from Finneas, Courtney Barnett, the Luna Lunas, Lucy Dacus, St. Vincent, Perfume Genius, and more.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Peeking above aquamarine waves that hide the world's second-largest barrier reef, Belize's Ambergris Caye first emerged as a destination for the daring.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Feb. 2025
-
Cute and functional, the round charger plugs into the wall and hides a four-foot-long retractable USB-C cable.—
Jessica Kasparian,
SELF,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Featuring a 43-millimeter rose gold face, baguette diamonds and an alligator leather strap, the rapper’s watch costs around $2.2 million resale.—
Hannah Malach,
WWD,
3 Feb. 2025
-
The showstopping number featured painterly streaks of canary yellow and robin’s egg blue tulle across the bodice, which was also adorned with three-dimensional berry and flower embellishments and black velvet straps.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Following a team of vigilantes who want to stop the rise of megalomaniac superheroes, The Boys satirizes the likes of Marvel and DC, showing what could happen if Superman and Batman weren't so heroic.—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
22 Dec. 2024
-
Bond vigilantes have been signaling concerns over several areas: 1) inflation, 2) deficits and 3) tariffs and 4) tax cuts.—
Bob Pisani,
CNBC,
19 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
There was a time when the Mojito was the bane of bartenders back in the early aughts when the drink was popular but the craft cocktail movement hadn’t really found its sea legs yet.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
7 Feb. 2025
-
For most of us, meetings are the bane of our existence.—
StackCommerce Team (Sponsored),
PCMAG,
3 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Scourge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourge. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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