scourge

11 synonyms and 1 antonym for scourge, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A whip, especially one with several lashes, historically used to punish or torture.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

threat terror waste

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

nemesis curse

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

bane flagellum ravage desolate devastate flagellate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A whip, especially one with several lashes, historically used to punish or torture.

“Prisoners were beaten with a scourge in medieval times.”

bane threat flagellum terror nemesis curse

2. noun

A person or thing that causes widespread suffering.

“Malaria remains a scourge in many tropical regions.”

Opposites

blessing

3. verb

To cause great and lasting suffering to; to afflict severely.

“Drought has scourged the region for three years running.”

ravage desolate devastate waste flagellate

How to use scourge

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

the scourge of war a scourge on society scourged by disease

Etymology

From Old French forms tracing back to Latin excoriare, \"to strip the skin off,\" the same root that gives us excoriate.

Full origin of scourge →

Frequently asked questions

What does “scourge” mean?

The word “scourge” means a whip, especially one with several lashes, historically used to punish or torture. In plain terms, either a whip used for punishment, or — more commonly today — something that causes ongoing widespread harm, like a disease or war.

How do you pronounce “scourge”?

“Scourge” is pronounced skurj (/skɜɹd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “scourge” in a sentence?

Here is “scourge” used in a sentence: “Prisoners were beaten with a scourge in medieval times.”

What part of speech is “scourge”?

Depending on how it is used, “scourge” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “scourge” come from?

The word “scourge” comes from Latin. From Old French forms tracing back to Latin excoriare, \"to strip the skin off,\" the same root that gives us excoriate.

Is “scourge” a common word?

“Scourge” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “scourge” have?

“Scourge” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a whip, especially one with several lashes, historically used to punish or torture.

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waste threat terror blessing curse nemesis bane desolate flagellate devastate ravage

Nearby words

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