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

Deadly fires were once a regular scourge in densely populated Hong Kong, especially in poorer neighbourhoods, but improved safety measures have made them far less common.

Read more on Barron's

Deadly fires were once a a regular scourge in densely populated Hong Kong, especially in poorer neighbourhoods.

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There has also been an online petition, signed by over one million people, calling for the government to take an even tougher stance against the scourge.

Read more on BBC

Long the scourge of water companies for blocking pipes, a ban on the sale of wet wipes made of plastic will be signed into law later today.

Read more on BBC

The vote is taking place amid unprecedented violence sparked by turf wars and side hustles of drug trafficking gangs, a scourge which Noboa has vowed to tackle with a firm hand.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• curse 
• pest 
• terror