scourge
gb/skˈɚd͡ʒ/ us/skˈɚd͡ʒ/
C1
Inglés
~ 9400
csapás, átok, kilencfarkú korbács, sújt, megkorbácsol
SUSTANTIVO
C1
FORMAL
1
Patrón de uso:
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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
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.
Error frecuente:
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.
Significado
cause of great suffering
Colocaciones
the scourge of war
|the scourge of drugs
|the scourge of poverty
|a terrible scourge
|a scourge on society
|the modern scourge of terrorism
Sinónimos
plague (Often used in a similar figurative way, but can sound slightly less formal than "scourge".)
Antónimos
blessing (A positive thing that brings help or happiness, the opposite of something that causes deep harm.)
Temas
problems
|society
|violence
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definición
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.
SUSTANTIVO
C2
LITERARY
2
Patrón de uso:
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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
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.
Error frecuente:
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.
Significado
whip used for punishment
Colocaciones
leather scourge
|lash of the scourge
|under the scourge
|wield a scourge
Sinónimos
whip (More general and common; "scourge" usually suggests a heavy or cruel whip, often in historical or religious contexts.)
Antónimos
reward (A positive response or gift given for good behavior, the opposite of an instrument used for harsh punishment.)
Temas
history
|violence
|religion
|law
Definición
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.
VERBO
C2
FORMAL
3
sújt
B2
Patrón de uso:
[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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
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.
Error frecuente:
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."
Significado
to afflict very severely
Colocaciones
war scourged the region
|a disease scourged the population
|be scourged by poverty
|lands scourged by drought
Sinónimos
ravage (Very close in meaning; "ravage" is slightly more common and can be a bit less formal in some contexts.)
Antónimos
relieve (Means to make suffering less or remove it, the opposite of causing intense suffering.)
Temas
problems
|society
|violence
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definición
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.
VERBO
C2
LITERARY
4
megkorbácsol
C1
Patrón de uso:
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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
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.
Error frecuente:
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.
Significado
to whip as punishment
Colocaciones
scourged with whips
|scourged for heresy
|publicly scourged
|prisoners were scourged
Sinónimos
flog (Very close in meaning; "flog" is more common, while "scourge" sounds older and more dramatic.)
Antónimos
spare (To choose not to punish or hurt someone, the opposite of beating them with a whip.)
Temas
history
|violence
|law
|religion
Definición
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.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
scourge
AFI
GB/skˈɚd͡ʒ/
US/skˈɚd͡ʒ/
Sílabas y acento
scourge (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (scourge)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: scourge
- Plural: scourges
Verb
- Base: scourge
- 3rd Person Singular: scourges
- Present Participle: scourging
- Past: scourged
Familia de palabras
Forms
scourges
noun
scourging
verb
scourged
verb
Expresiones
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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.