ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsSscourge
ISEE/SSAThard
scourge
Meaning: a source of widespread suffering or destruction
scourge in a sentence
How scourge is used in real sentences:
Malaria remained a scourge in the region for generations.
The invasive beetle became a scourge to forests across the state.
“Forgery had long been a scourge for museums, draining budgets and casting suspicion on legitimate discoveries.”
— from the passage The Counterfeit Lesson
Synonyms for scourge
Other words for scourge — plague, bane and affliction — carry the same meaning.
- plague
- bane
- affliction
Antonyms of scourge
Words that mean the opposite of scourge:
- blessing
- boon
- remedy
Where it comes from
From Old French escorge, meaning 'whip.'
Memory hook
SCOURGE sounds harsh: a scourge brings harsh and widespread harm.