Synonyms for scourge
- verb
- noun
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Lash — to strike (a person, an animal, etc.) with a scourge (noun etymology 1 sense 1) or whip; to flog, to whip
lash, punish, flagellate, strap, chastise, flog, whip, cut, beat, slash, thrash, rod, stripe, belt, birch, lather, quirt, knout, castigate, lambast UK, lamblast US, trounce, drub
Noun
1. Plague
plague, curse, bane, affliction, pestilence, torment, infliction, nuisance, nemesis, thorn, pest, annoyance, visitation, vexation, grievance
Other
punishment, misfortune, tormentor, thong, cowhide, flagellum
Definitions
- v. 1
To strike (a person, an animal, etc.) with a scourge (noun etymology 1 sense 1) or whip; to flog, to whip.
- v. 2
To drive, or force (a person, an animal, etc.) to move, with or as if with a scourge or whip.
- n. 1
A whip, often made of leather and having multiple tails; a lash.
He flogged him with a scourge.
- n. 2
A person or thing regarded as an agent of divine punishment.
Example sentences
- afflict My motto is: Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| scourge | rising | |
| flagellate | falling | |
| quirt | rising | |
| knout | steady | |
| ravage | rising | |
| afflict | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- cut1, rod1
- 4 letters
- beat1, belt1, whip1, pest1, lash1, bane1, flog1, drub1
- 5 letters
- waste1, curse1, strap1, slash1, birch1, thorn1, thong1, quirt, knout
- 6 letters
- threat1, terror2, punish2, plague1, stripe1, thrash1, lather2, ravage2
- 7 letters
- torment2, nemesis3, afflict2, cowhide, trounce1, lambast
- 8 letters
- nuisance2, desolate3, chastise2, vexation, lamblast
- 9 letters
- annoyance3, grievance2, devastate3, tormentor3, flagellum3, castigate3
- 10 letters
- punishment3, misfortune3, visitation4, affliction3, pestilence3, infliction3, flagellate3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (terror2 = 2 syllables).