Scourge — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈskərj/

Meaning & Definition of Scourge

Scourge (noun)

  1. whip; especially, one used to inflict pain or punishment
  2. an instrument of punishment or criticism
  3. a cause of wide or great affliction

Scourge (verb)

  1. flog, whip
  2. to punish severely
  3. afflict

Scourge (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a long thin or flexible tool for striking

    "the museum display included a scourge, thumbscrews, and other notorious instruments of torture"

    similar: flogger, lash, switch, whip
    related: birch, blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, cowhide, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, rawhide, strap, bastinado, bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, flail, nightstick, staff

  2. 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"

    similar: avenger, castigator, chastiser, nemesis, punisher, vigilante
    related: revenger, redresser, righter, requiter
    near: ransomer, redeemer, vindicator

  3. 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"

    similar: affliction, bane, curse, nemesis
    related: hex, hoodoo, jinx, danger, hazard, menace, peril, risk, threat, trouble, booby trap, catch, pitfall, snag
    opposite: benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall
    near: advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support, comfort, consolation, solace, delight, joy, pleasure, armor, defense, guard, protection, safeguard, safety, security, shield

Scourge (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to bring destruction to (something) through violent action

    "barbarians scourged the countryside, leaving village after village burned to the ground"

    similar: destroy, devastate, ravage, ruin
    related: despoil, foray, harry, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, sack, strip, annihilate, desolate, eradicate, expunge, extinguish, extirpate, nuke, obliterate, rub out, shatter, smash, total, vaporize, waste, wipe out, wrack, wreck, decimate, mow, demolish, raze, crush, overpower, overrun, overthrow, overwhelm
    near: recondition, recover, redeem, rehabilitate, restore, fix, mend, patch, repair, revamp

  2. to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible

    "scourge the tree with a whip to loosen the bark"

    similar: birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, slash, switch, tan, thrash, whale, whip
    related: knout, quirt, strap, cut, flick, touch up, blackjack, cane, club, cudgel, fustigate, pistol-whip, bang, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, cuff, hit, knock, lam, paste, punch, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thwack, wallop, whack, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, bludgeon, buffet, bung, drub, fib (British), hammer, lace, lambaste, lather, lick, mangle, maul, paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, rough, slate, slog, thresh, thump, tromp, whop, whup, work over

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Scourge

The most common words with a similar meaning to Scourge:

flogger, lash, switch, whip, avenger, castigator, chastiser, nemesis, punisher, vigilante, affliction, bane, curse, destroy, devastate, ravage, ruin, birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, leather, rawhide, slash, tan, thrash, whale

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Scourge

Words with the opposite meaning of Scourge:

benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall

Related Words for Scourge

blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, strap, bastinado, bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, nightstick, staff, revenger, redresser, righter, requiter, hex, hoodoo, jinx, danger, hazard, menace

Near Antonyms of Scourge

ransomer, redeemer, vindicator, advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support, comfort, consolation, solace, delight, joy, pleasure, armor, defense, guard, protection, safeguard, safety, security, shield, recondition, recover, redeem, rehabilitate, restore, fix

Word Forms of Scourge

Inflections: scourged, scourging

Derived words: scourger (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Scourge

Middle English, from Anglo-French escorge, from escorger to whip, from Vulgar Latin *excorrigiare, from Latin ex- + corrigia thong, whip

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Scourge

What does "Scourge" mean?

"Scourge" means whip; especially, one used to inflict pain or punishment. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: whip; especially, one used to inflict pain or punishment. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Scourge"?

Other words for "Scourge" include flogger, lash, switch, whip, avenger, castigator, chastiser and nemesis. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Scourge" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Scourge"?

There are 166 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Scourge". Common alternatives include flogger, lash, switch, whip, avenger, castigator, chastiser, nemesis, punisher and vigilante.

What is the opposite of "Scourge"?

Antonyms of "Scourge" include benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna and windfall. Near antonyms include ransomer, redeemer, vindicator and advantage.

How do you use "Scourge" in a sentence?

Examples of "Scourge" in a sentence: "the museum display included a scourge, thumbscrews, and other notorious instruments of torture"; "the attorney general, who just happens to be a candidate for governor, is a self-proclaimed scourge of organized crime"; "the sheer ubiquity of food is proving to be the scourge of humanity, as evidenced by the obesity epidemic".

Is "Scourge" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Scourge" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Scourge"?

"Scourge" is pronounced /ˈskərj/.

What is the origin of the word "Scourge"?

"Scourge" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French escorge, from escorger to whip, from Vulgar Latin *excorrigiare, from Latin ex- + corrigia thong, whip. First known use: 13th century.