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
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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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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scourge
Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 28 Nov. 2025
The recent abductions revive a long-running scourge that Nigeria has battled since the terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 school girls from Chibok in 2014, with nearly a third still missing.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Nov. 2025
Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for scourge
Noun
Here's why one writer thinks its time to end the scourge of scared kids forced to sit on Santa's lap for a photo opp—for good.
—Verb
The tragedy inspired a poem by twelve-year-old Benjamin Franklin and a funeral oration by the scourging Puritan clergyman Cotton Mather.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for scourge
Noun
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Reservations cost $95 for a two-hour visit, which includes a shot, two drinks, Dole whip and immersive character interactions.—
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Garcia has represented Illinois’s 4th Congressional District since 2019 and serves as deputy whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.—
Noun
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Musk reposted images of himself and others, like longtime nemesis Bill Gates, in bikinis.—
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When his evil nemesis (Penn) resurfaces after 16 years and Willa goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her as father and daughter battle the consequences of his past.—
Noun
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In part, this is just a curse of timing for the tournaments being played.—
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In Jujutsu Kaisen, heroic jujutsu sorcerers wage war against demonic creatures called curses and the curse users, who wield jujutsu powers for evil.—
Verb
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Dysentery and scurvy ravaged the vessel, killing or incapacitating many on board.—
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Nineteens went to the right flank, near where the Kinneloa Fire had ravaged that neighborhood in 1993.—
Verb
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
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But the jury in the federal civil lawsuit found that Moore violated Gillispie's rights by hiding evidence that would have helped Gillispie's defense and creating unfair lineup procedures for the victims.—
Noun
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The main selling point here is the slingback strap that can be worn tucked up on the vamp or adjusted down to secure your heel in place.—
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This single-strap leather tote is a tad more practical for everyday use but still fits into the slouchy, hobo trends that are carrying over into 2026.—
Noun
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Aldis Hodge as the detective and forensic psychologist who looks into the minds of killers to catch them goes on the hunt in the second season trailer for Cross for a ruthless vigilante pursuing a billionaire businessman tied to the murder of a playboy.—
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In Season 2, Cross is in pursuit of a ruthless vigilante who is hunting down corrupt billionaire magnates.—
Noun
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Re&Up’s general manager Andreas Dorner discusses the challenges of operating in today’s geopolitical quagmire, how environmental policy can be both a boon and a bane, and where the company is headed next.—
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The actresses play the delightful mother-daughter duo Angela and Ainsley — who are oftentimes the banes of Tommy's (Billy Bob Thornton) existence — in the Taylor Sheridan series.—
Cite this Entry
“Scourge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourge. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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