scourge
gb/skˈɚd͡ʒ/ us/skˈɚd͡ʒ/
C1
English
~ 9400
csapás, átok, kilencfarkú korbács, sújt, megkorbácsol
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
the scourge of [something]
For many communities, opioid addiction has become the scourge of modern life.
Sok közösség számára az opioidfüggőség a modern élet csapásává vált.
Malaria remains a scourge of the developing world.
A malária továbbra is a fejlődő világ egyik csapása.
The documentary exposed the scourge of domestic violence in suburban neighborhoods.
Cybercrime is the new scourge of the financial sector.
Learner examples
Unemployment is the scourge of this small town.
A munkanélküliség ennek a kisvárosnak a csapása.
Plastic waste is a scourge of the oceans.
A műanyaghulladék az óceánok átka.
For poor families, debt can be a real scourge.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "scourge" for small, everyday problems, but it is normally only used for very serious and harmful things like war, disease, or extreme crime. It is also often confused with "scour", which means to clean or search something; these words are unrelated in meaning.
Meaning
cause of great suffering
Collocations
the scourge of war
|the scourge of drugs
|the scourge of poverty
|a terrible scourge
|a scourge on society
|the modern scourge of terrorism
Synonyms
plague (Often used in a similar figurative way, but can sound slightly less formal than "scourge".)
Antonyms
blessing (A positive thing that brings help or happiness, the opposite of something that causes deep harm.)
Themes
problems
|society
|violence
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very bad problem, person, or thing that hurts many people for a long time.
A person, thing, or serious problem that causes great and widespread suffering or trouble, often over a long period.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
2
Usage pattern:
to use a scourge on [someone]
The prisoner flinched at the sight of the executioner’s scourge.
A fogoly összerezzent a hóhér kilencfarkú korbácsának láttán.
In many paintings, the martyr is shown bound and bleeding under the scourge.
Sok festményen a mártírt megkötözve és vérezve ábrázolják a kilencfarkú korbács ütései alatt.
The ancient text describes a cruel king who ruled with the scourge and the sword.
Learner examples
The guard held a scourge in his hand.
Az őr egy kilencfarkú korbácsot tartott a kezében.
In the story, the slave was beaten with a scourge.
A történetben a rabszolgát kilencfarkú korbáccsal verték.
The old law allowed the use of a scourge as punishment.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this physical object meaning with the more common figurative meaning of a serious problem. When it means a whip, it usually appears in historical or religious writing, often with clear physical details such as blood, lashes, or punishment.
Meaning
whip used for punishment
Collocations
leather scourge
|lash of the scourge
|under the scourge
|wield a scourge
Synonyms
whip (More general and common; "scourge" usually suggests a heavy or cruel whip, often in historical or religious contexts.)
Antonyms
reward (A positive response or gift given for good behavior, the opposite of an instrument used for harsh punishment.)
Themes
history
|violence
|religion
|law
Definition
A strong whip used long ago to hit and punish people.
A whip with one or several lashes, used especially in the past to punish or torture people.
VERB
C2
FORMAL
3
sújt
B2
Usage pattern:
[problem] scourges [place/people]
For decades, civil war has scourged the region, leaving millions displaced.
A polgárháború évtizedek óta sújtja a térséget, és milliókat kényszerített lakóhelyük elhagyására.
The coastal villages were scourged by repeated hurricanes.
A tengerparti falvakat ismétlődő hurrikánok sújtották.
Entire generations have been scourged by unemployment and corruption.
Small farming communities are being scourged by years of drought.
Learner examples
The city was scourged by war for many years.
A várost sok éven át sújtotta a háború.
The country is scourged by a new disease.
Az országot egy új betegség sújtja.
The people were scourged by hunger and fear.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "scourge" as a verb in everyday situations like "The rain scourged my trip"; this sounds too strong and unnatural. The verb is reserved for very serious and large-scale harm, and is often used in the passive: "The region was scourged by famine."
Meaning
to afflict very severely
Collocations
war scourged the region
|a disease scourged the population
|be scourged by poverty
|lands scourged by drought
Synonyms
ravage (Very close in meaning; "ravage" is slightly more common and can be a bit less formal in some contexts.)
Antonyms
relieve (Means to make suffering less or remove it, the opposite of causing intense suffering.)
Themes
problems
|society
|violence
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hurt or damage many people or a place very badly, usually for a long time.
To cause great and widespread suffering, damage, or destruction to someone, something, or a place, often over an extended period.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
4
megkorbácsol
C1
Usage pattern:
to scourge [someone]
The rebels were captured, chained, and scourged in the public square.
A lázadókat elfogták, megláncolták, és a főtéren megkorbácsolták.
According to the legend, he was scourged for refusing to deny his faith.
A legenda szerint megkorbácsolták, mert nem volt hajlandó megtagadni a hitét.
The law allowed officials to scourge anyone who tried to escape.
Learner examples
The guards scourged the prisoner without mercy.
Az őrök irgalom nélkül megkorbácsolták a foglyot.
In the story, the king orders his men to scourge the thief.
A történetben a király megparancsolja embereinek, hogy megkorbácsolják a tolvajt.
The woman was scourged because she broke the harsh law.
Common mistake:
This meaning is rare today and mostly appears in historical or religious texts; learners might try to use it in modern legal or workplace contexts, where it sounds strange or wrong. In modern English you would use verbs like "beat" or "whip" instead.
Meaning
to whip as punishment
Collocations
scourged with whips
|scourged for heresy
|publicly scourged
|prisoners were scourged
Synonyms
flog (Very close in meaning; "flog" is more common, while "scourge" sounds older and more dramatic.)
Antonyms
spare (To choose not to punish or hurt someone, the opposite of beating them with a whip.)
Themes
history
|violence
|law
|religion
Definition
To beat someone again and again with a whip as a punishment.
To hit someone repeatedly with a whip, especially as a legal or religious punishment.
Grammar
Dictionary form
scourge
IPA
GB/skˈɚd͡ʒ/
US/skˈɚd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
scourge (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (scourge)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: scourge
- Plural: scourges
Verb
- Base: scourge
- 3rd Person Singular: scourges
- Present Participle: scourging
- Past: scourged
Word family
Forms
scourges
noun
scourging
verb
scourged
verb
Expressions
a scourge on society
1/ə skˈɚd͡ʒ ˈɔn səsˈaɪəti/
fixed phrase
formal
thing that badly harms society
Used to say that something is very harmful and damaging to the whole society.
Examples
- The judge called domestic violence a scourge on society.
- Many health experts describe smoking as a scourge on society because of the lives it destroys.
the scourge of [something]
1/ðə skˈɚd͡ʒ əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
describe something as a major evil
Used to say that something is a very serious problem that hurts many people or a place for a long time.
Examples
- Journalists often write about the scourge of corruption in public life.
- Many governments are trying to fight the scourge of human trafficking.
- New laws aim to address the scourge of online harassment.