scourged

verb

past tense of scourge
1
as in ravaged
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action barbarians scourged the countryside, leaving village after village burned to the ground

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whipped
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible scourge the tree with a whip to loosen the bark

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scourged These scourged the poor harder than anyone else. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scourged
  1. ravaged
  2. whipped
  3. destroyed
  4. lashed
  5. devastated
  6. slashed
  7. flogged
  8. slapped
Verb
  • For more than 50 years, the house remained vacant, was ravaged by fire, and fell into complete disrepair.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The orangutans, including three mothers with infants and two adolescent males, were rescued from areas in Ketapang and North Kayong regencies that were ravaged by fires between August and September.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of ravaged
Verb
  • After learning that Manchester whipped Maggie with a cat-o’-nine-tails, Lizzie agrees to help the Borden family’s maid kill her.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
  • That sort of whipped, inswinging ball from Slater that caused so much havoc is hugely familiar to avid Premier League watchers.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • Firefighters battling a blaze that destroyed six homes in south Orange County can expect a bit of reprieve Saturday afternoon as Santa Ana winds begin to die down.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Its owners, a family of three, left for a cruise before the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel destroyed their property.
    — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroyed
Verb
  • Over the weekend, Hurricane Simon lashed at the country's Pacific Coast as a Category 4 hurricane.
    — Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
  • San Diego lashed 30 of his 88 pitches for fouls, as Misiorowski’s command and velocity escaped him in the second inning.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of lashed
Verb
  • Decades of deforestation have devastated vast areas of orangutan habitat, pushing the animals into smaller pockets, increasing their vulnerability to poachers.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Going on two years after the wildfires that devastated Pacific Palisades and other Los Angeles-area neighborhoods, a popular moviehouse is ready for its closeup.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of devastated
Verb
  • The carrier also slashed earnings for basic economy flights, following earlier changes to the same practice by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
    — Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The second man pulled a knife and slashed the first in the abdomen, police said.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of slashed
Verb
  • She has not been flogged but spent long periods in solitary confinement.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • She hasn’t been flogged, but spent long periods in solitary confinement.
    — Amir-Hussein Radjy, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of flogged
Verb
  • After Daria Rae slapped her backstage, Hartwell was rewarded with a shot at the Knockouts Championship against Brookside.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • At the funeral my half-sister told me I was emotionally disturbed and my memories of being slapped were lies.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of slapped

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Cite this Entry

“Scourged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scourged. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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