scourge

[skurj]

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

verb (used with object)

scourged, scourging 

1. to whip with a scourge; lash.

2. to punish, chastise, or criticize severely.

   Synonyms: castigate, correct

scourge

/ 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

verb

1. to whip; flog

2. to punish severely

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scourge¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scourge¹

C13: from Anglo-French escorge, from Old French escorgier (unattested) to lash, from es- _ex- ¹ + Latin corrigia whip

Example Sentences

Because for the past decade, the right has been on a crusade to end what they see as the scourge of “cancel culture.”

From Salon

A statement from the Haitian Heritage Association called for a "united front" in stemming the scourge - and lamented "hateful narratives" levelled at Haitian people by some members of the Turks and Caicos public.

From BBC

Half a century later, Scotland is still grappling with alienation and still struggling with the scourge of alcohol and drugs.

From BBC

The bark beetle has been the scourge of Europe, killing millions of spruce trees, yet the government thought it could halt its spread to the UK by checking imported wood products at ports.

From BBC

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has described illegal immigration as a "scourge" which is affecting the country on a "historic and unprecedented" scale.

From BBC

Related Words

• curse 
• pest 
• terror