noun
Uncommon
scourge
skurj
Scourge (noun) means a whip, especially one with several lashes, historically used to punish or torture. Example: “Prisoners were beaten with a scourge in medieval times.”
noun
1
A whip, especially one with several lashes, historically used to punish or torture.
"Prisoners were beaten with a scourge in medieval times."
2
A person or thing that causes widespread suffering.
"Malaria remains a scourge in many tropical regions."
"The tyrant was a scourge on his own people."
verb
1
To cause great and lasting suffering to; to afflict severely.
"Drought has scourged the region for three years running."
How to use scourge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a whip used for punishment, or — more commonly today — something that causes ongoing widespread harm, like a disease or war.
Common pairings
the scourge of war
a scourge on society
scourged by disease
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like scourge.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- scourges
- Third person singular
- scourges
- Past tense
- scourged
- Archaic forms
- scourgest, scourgedst, scourgeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Prisoners were beaten with a _____ in medieval times.
Etymology
From Old French forms tracing back to Latin excoriare, \"to strip the skin off,\" the same root that gives us excoriate.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for scourge
See all rhymes for 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.
