Empowered, informed citizens are the scourge of any tyrant.
Source: tatoeba (1586607)
Scourge
/skɜːd͡ʒ/
Synonyms for "scourge" (209 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
adversityafflictafflictionambulatory plaguebanebastebastinadobeatbelaborbeltbete noirebirchblack deathblack plagueblacksnakeblightblisterbubonic plaguebuffetbugbear
Show 14 more words
bullwhackbullwhipburdencalamitycanecastigatecastigationcatcellulocutaneous plaguechasteningchastisechastisementclubcondign punishment
Verb(1 words)
Strong matches (63)
Related words (104)
larval plaguelashlatherlay onmiserymisfortunemurrainnemesisopen woundoppressoroverrunpainpainspains and punishmentspandemiapandemicpaypaymentpenal retributionpenalty
Show 68 more words
penologypestpestholepestilencepillagepistol whippistol-whipplacidplagueplague spotpneumonic plaguepommelpremonitory plaguepummelpunishpunishmentpunitionquirtrackrawhiderazor strapretributionretributive justicerunning soresackscarifyscathescorchscoresepticemic plaguesiderating plaguesjambokslamslapslashslatesmitespankspoliatestrapstrikestripeswingeswitchthongthornthrashthumptormenttrouncetruncheontuberculosisulcervexationvisitvisitationwallopwastewear outwell-deserved punishmentwhalewhat forwhat-forwhipwhiplashwhite plaguewhopwoe
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adversity, afflict, afflict, affliction, affliction.
- Sentence evidence is available for scourge, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "scourge".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "scourge"
Keep "scourge" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "scourge" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "scourge", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "scourge" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
23 entriesShowing 16 of 23 words.
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
10 entrieseconomic scourgeglobal scourgemoral scourgenew scourgepublic health scourgepublic scourgescourge of diseasescourge of povertyscourge of warsocial scourge
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
51 total sentences available.
In our fight against drug abuse we shall be committing a serious mistake if we begin to admit that it is a 'lost war' and that, for hypocritically economically-based questions, it is not worthwhile investing enough money to deal with the size of this scourge.
Source: tatoeba (1804882)
As far as I understand despite my limited knowledge, here in Venezuela we must adapt to the prevailing mentality and social order. Therefore, an individual must live among opportunism, poverty, manipulation and superficiality. It might be a very characteristic Latino idiosyncrasy to behave as in the book "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel García Márquez when it comes to dealing with delicate situations. Everybody knows what's happening, but nobody raises his voice and even if somebody did, nobody would support him. Only enlightenment through education could end the ignorance that is a scourge on our people, from which many other problems arise. However, it's unlikely to expect a government to propose to spread values that threaten its own interests, because it's better for them to keep society ignorant in order to manipulate it with ease.
Source: tatoeba (3518355)
They heard that a Seven-Headed Dragon was ravaging the neighbouring kingdom, and that the king had promised his daughter's hand to anyone that would free the land from this scourge.
Source: tatoeba (6211539)
Showing 4 of 51 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "scourge"?
Closest matches include adversity, afflict, afflict, affliction, affliction.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "scourge"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.