Scourge
noun
Something that causes great trouble, suffering or destruction.
Diseases are often a scourge in poor countries
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A person who causes great trouble or suffering.
She was the scourge of the department with her constant complaints
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A whip used for punishment.
He was threatened with the scourge if he did not obey
Usage tips
Historical
verb
To cause great trouble or suffering to.
The city has been scourged by unemployment for many years
noun
Something that causes great trouble, suffering or destruction.
Diseases are often a scourge in poor countries
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A person who causes great trouble or suffering.
She was the scourge of the department with her constant complaints
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A whip used for punishment.
He was threatened with the scourge if he did not obey
Usage tips
Historical
verb
To cause great trouble or suffering to.
The city has been scourged by unemployment for many years
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Negative Context
Used to describe serious, harmful situations or events, usually beyond human control.
Floods are a scourge that can displace thousands.
Pro Tip 2/2Expressing Severity
Emphasizes the extreme negative impact of a situation, often more intense than synonyms.
The scourge of illiteracy affects economic development.
Pro Tip 1/2Negative Context
Used to describe serious, harmful situations or events, usually beyond human control.
Floods are a scourge that can displace thousands.
Pro Tip 2/2Expressing Severity
Emphasizes the extreme negative impact of a situation, often more intense than synonyms.
The scourge of illiteracy affects economic development.
Pro Tip 1/2Negative Context
Used to describe serious, harmful situations or events, usually beyond human control.
Floods are a scourge that can displace thousands.
Pro Tip 2/2Expressing Severity
Emphasizes the extreme negative impact of a situation, often more intense than synonyms.
The scourge of illiteracy affects economic development.
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Video examples
The history of the world...
And as the wildcats learned to tolerate the presence of humans and other cats during mealtime, we think that farmers likewise tolerated the cats in exchange for free pest control. The relationship was so beneficial that the cats migrated with Neolithic farmers from Anatolia into Europe and the Mediterranean. Vermin were a major scourge of the seven seas.
Video examples
The loathsome, lethal...
And mosquito-borne diseases kill millions of people every year. The scourge that is the mosquito isn't new. Mosquitoes have been around for over a hundred million years and over that time have coevolved with all sorts of species, including our own. There are actually thousands of species of mosquitos in the world, but they all share one insidious
Video examples
Joe DeRisi: Hunting the...
and infected them with adenovirus, and you can see this little yellow barcode next to adenovirus. And, likewise, we infected them with parainfluenza-3 -- that's a paramyxovirus -- and you see a little barcode here. And then we did respiratory syncytial virus. That's the scourge of daycare centers everywhere --
Video examples
Gun violence as told by...
just this afternoon she's in critical condition a hundred children died in unintentional shooting deaths in the year after Newtown that breaks down to two a week you may think that I have the solution to the scourge of gun violence
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 206 PIPE...
your day special day well done very necessary to have these days of course because awareness is massively important for conservation and elephants have received well slightly less publicity since the scourge of rhino poaching has
Video examples
What causes bad breath?...
This horrible scourge is halitosis, otherwise known as bad breath. But what causes it, and why is it so universally terrifying? Well, think of some of the worst odors you can imagine,
Video examples
One Man’s Mission to...
utilizing the genetics the largest oldest strongest proven through the test of time giants that will help us turn this scourge that we face this threat climate
Video examples
What did dogs teach...
Diabetes mellitus has been a scourge of the developed world with an estimated 400,000,000 people worldwide suffering from this disease,
Video examples
Why city flags may be...
There is a scourge of bad flags -- and they must be stopped. That is the truth and that is the dare.
Video examples
Paper Wasp PIPE National...
scourge of a paper wasp nest another is water
Video examples
The history of the world...
And as the wildcats learned to tolerate the presence of humans and other cats during mealtime, we think that farmers likewise tolerated the cats in exchange for free pest control. The relationship was so beneficial that the cats migrated with Neolithic farmers from Anatolia into Europe and the Mediterranean. Vermin were a major scourge of the seven seas.
Video examples
The loathsome, lethal...
And mosquito-borne diseases kill millions of people every year. The scourge that is the mosquito isn't new. Mosquitoes have been around for over a hundred million years and over that time have coevolved with all sorts of species, including our own. There are actually thousands of species of mosquitos in the world, but they all share one insidious
Video examples
Joe DeRisi: Hunting the...
and infected them with adenovirus, and you can see this little yellow barcode next to adenovirus. And, likewise, we infected them with parainfluenza-3 -- that's a paramyxovirus -- and you see a little barcode here. And then we did respiratory syncytial virus. That's the scourge of daycare centers everywhere --
Video examples
Gun violence as told by...
just this afternoon she's in critical condition a hundred children died in unintentional shooting deaths in the year after Newtown that breaks down to two a week you may think that I have the solution to the scourge of gun violence
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 206 PIPE...
your day special day well done very necessary to have these days of course because awareness is massively important for conservation and elephants have received well slightly less publicity since the scourge of rhino poaching has
Video examples
What causes bad breath?...
This horrible scourge is halitosis, otherwise known as bad breath. But what causes it, and why is it so universally terrifying? Well, think of some of the worst odors you can imagine,
Video examples
One Man’s Mission to...
utilizing the genetics the largest oldest strongest proven through the test of time giants that will help us turn this scourge that we face this threat climate
Video examples
What did dogs teach...
Diabetes mellitus has been a scourge of the developed world with an estimated 400,000,000 people worldwide suffering from this disease,
Video examples
Why city flags may be...
There is a scourge of bad flags -- and they must be stopped. That is the truth and that is the dare.
Video examples
Paper Wasp PIPE National...
scourge of a paper wasp nest another is water
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Stacey Abrams
American Politician
While my parents both worked full-time, we still grappled with the scourge of working-class poverty. But my entrepreneurial mother used her research skills to consult. And, along with my dad, she even ran a soul food restaurant for my great-aunt.
Quote examples
Kellyanne Conway
American Businesswoman
African Americans are concerned about the scourge of abortion in their community, and respond to related facts and figures. Large majorities agree that every life should have a chance, regardless of race, socioeconomic status or circumstance.
Quote examples
Ross Douthat
American Author
I get the sense people sort of imagine that in my personal religious life I must be an intense rigorist wearing a hair shirt under my clothes while scourging myself. And, really, I'm not a rigorist by temperament.
Quote examples
Charles Lawrence
British Politician
I shall support the law, for the law gentlemen, is the firm and solid basis of civil society, the guardian of liberty, the protection of the innocent, the terror of the guilty, and the scourge of the wicked.
Quote examples
Frances Beinecke
American Activist
Climate change is the central environmental ill of our time. We have an obligation to protect our children from the dangers of this widening scourge, and we aren't yet doing enough about it.
Quote examples
Steven Hatfill
American Scientist
I am extremely proud of my service with the government and my efforts to help safeguard public health and protect our country against the scourge of offensive biological warfare.
Quote examples
Arthur Henderson
British Politician
We had four years of world war which the peoples endured only because they were told that their sufferings would free humanity forever from the scourge of war.
Quote examples
Martin Luther
German Leader
War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity, it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.
Quote examples
Jeff Fortenberry
American Politician
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. It is a scourge for humanity, and America must project its values and protect vulnerable persons.
Quote examples
Sushma Swaraj
Indian Politician
It is necessary that we eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms, without any discrimination, and end the ecosystem of its support.
Quote examples
Stacey Abrams
American Politician
While my parents both worked full-time, we still grappled with the scourge of working-class poverty. But my entrepreneurial mother used her research skills to consult. And, along with my dad, she even ran a soul food restaurant for my great-aunt.
Quote examples
Kellyanne Conway
American Businesswoman
African Americans are concerned about the scourge of abortion in their community, and respond to related facts and figures. Large majorities agree that every life should have a chance, regardless of race, socioeconomic status or circumstance.
Quote examples
Ross Douthat
American Author
I get the sense people sort of imagine that in my personal religious life I must be an intense rigorist wearing a hair shirt under my clothes while scourging myself. And, really, I'm not a rigorist by temperament.
Quote examples
Charles Lawrence
British Politician
I shall support the law, for the law gentlemen, is the firm and solid basis of civil society, the guardian of liberty, the protection of the innocent, the terror of the guilty, and the scourge of the wicked.
Quote examples
Frances Beinecke
American Activist
Climate change is the central environmental ill of our time. We have an obligation to protect our children from the dangers of this widening scourge, and we aren't yet doing enough about it.
Quote examples
Steven Hatfill
American Scientist
I am extremely proud of my service with the government and my efforts to help safeguard public health and protect our country against the scourge of offensive biological warfare.
Quote examples
Arthur Henderson
British Politician
We had four years of world war which the peoples endured only because they were told that their sufferings would free humanity forever from the scourge of war.
Quote examples
Martin Luther
German Leader
War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity, it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.
Quote examples
Jeff Fortenberry
American Politician
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. It is a scourge for humanity, and America must project its values and protect vulnerable persons.
Quote examples
Sushma Swaraj
Indian Politician
It is necessary that we eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms, without any discrimination, and end the ecosystem of its support.
Example 1 of 10
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