scourge

American  

[skurj] / skɜrdʒ /

noun

1. a whip or lash, especially for the infliction of punishment or torture.

2. a person or thing that applies or administers punishment or severe criticism.

3. a cause of affliction or calamity.

   Disease and famine are scourges of humanity.

   Synonyms:

   bane, plague

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verb (used with object)

scourged, scourging

1. to whip with a scourge; lash.

2. to punish, chastise, or criticize severely.

   Synonyms:

   castigate, correct

scourge British  

/ skɜːdʒ /

noun

1. a person who harasses, punishes, or causes destruction

2. a means of inflicting punishment or suffering

3. a whip used for inflicting punishment or torture

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verb

1. to whip; flog

2. to punish severely

Other Word Forms

• scourger noun
• scourgingly adverb
• self-scourging adjective
• unscourged adjective
• unscourging adjective

Etymology

Origin of scourge

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French escorge, derivative of escorgier to whip < Vulgar Latin *excorrigiāre, derivative of Latin corrigia thong, whip ( ex- ¹ ); (v.) Middle English < Old French escorgier

Example Sentences

As the holidays approach, we want to do our part to help eliminate the scourge of bad and selfish driving across the state.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the past two years, that scourge has surged unabated.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Australians are shocked and angry. I am angry. It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge," he told reporters.

From Barron's

Its success marks a break with Bollywood’s inability to grapple seriously with a scourge that threatens India and many other countries.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The scourges of terrorism and antisemitism are shared, international challenges and need concerted and determined action to defeat them," it added.

From BBC

Related Words

• curse
• pest
• terror