scourge
C1Formal, literary
Definition
Meaning
A cause of great trouble or suffering; historically, a whip used for punishment.
As a verb, to cause severe suffering or to whip; metaphorically, to criticize or punish severely.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used in historical, social, or serious contexts to describe disasters, diseases, or oppressive forces; carries strong negative connotations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Similarly negative connotations in both varieties, associated with severe punishment or calamity.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English in historical or literary contexts, but usage is comparable overall.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
scourge somethingbe scourged by somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scourge of God”
- “scourge of mankind”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; may appear metaphorically, e.g., 'the scourge of fraud in the industry.'
Academic
Common in historical or sociological contexts to describe oppressive systems or disasters, e.g., 'the scourge of colonialism.'
Everyday
Infrequent; used in serious discussions or news about crises, e.g., 'drug abuse is a scourge in our community.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields; more prevalent in humanities or social sciences.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The epidemic scourged the rural villages for years.
American English
- The tornado scourged the small town, leaving destruction in its wake.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Disease can be a scourge.
- Pollution is a scourge in many cities.
- The new law aims to scourge illegal logging in the forest.
- Historians often refer to the famine as a scourge that reshaped the nation's destiny.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'scour' which means to clean harshly, and 'scourge' as something that harshly affects or punishes people.
Conceptual Metaphor
SCOURGE IS A WHIP or SCOURGE IS A DISASTER, representing infliction of punishment or widespread suffering.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating solely as 'кнут' (whip); it also means 'бич' as a calamity.
- Do not confuse with 'scour' which has different meanings in English.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'scourge' as an adjective (e.g., 'a scourge issue') instead of a noun or verb.
- Mispronouncing it similar to 'scour' without the 'ge' sound.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'scourge' as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is more commonly used as a noun, especially in formal or literary contexts, though the verb form is also standard.
No, 'scourge' inherently carries negative connotations and is not used in positive contexts.
It derives from Old French 'escorgier', meaning to whip, which comes from Latin 'ex-' and 'corrigia', referring to a whip or lash.
In casual speech, words like 'plague' or 'curse' might be used similarly, but 'scourge' remains more formal and dramatic.