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View synonyms for

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: ,



verb (used with object)

scourged, scourging.
  1. to whip with a scourge; lash.
  2. to punish, chastise, or criticize severely.

    Synonyms: ,

scourge

/ ɜː /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to whip; flog
  2. to punish severely
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈdzܰ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • dzܰİ noun
  • dzܰiԲ· adverb
  • -dzܰiԲ adjective
  • ܲ·dzܰ adjective
  • ܲ·dzܰiԲ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of scourge1

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

The scourge of corruption had long dogged the upper echelons of the Catholic Church.

From

Visitors arriving by train were treated to this witty meditation on the scourge of Britain's seaside towns, equal parts warning and celebration.

From

Recent rains have upped the odds that the forest will see more of the scourge.

From

Stewart Wilson-Turner, whose son Aiden is a sophomore at Pali High, is excited he will be able to get back to in-person learning, but noted the possibility of an infamous L.A. scourge.

From

"Today," he said, "we issue a similar warning. The fate of free societies is tied to the willingness to fight the scourge of antisemitism."

From

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scourerscouring pad