scourge

A noun referring to a whip used for punishment, or more commonly, something that causes great suffering, misery, or death, or a person who inspires fear or dread.

ruСуществительное, обозначающее кнут, используемый для наказания, или, чаще, то, что причиняет большие страдания, несчастья или смерть, или человек, внушающий страх или ужас.esSustantivo que designa un látigo usado para castigar o, más frecuentemente, aquello que causa gran sufrimiento, desgracia o muerte, o una persona que infunde miedo o terror.frNom désignant un fouet servant à châtier ou, plus souvent, ce qui cause de grandes souffrances, des malheurs ou la mort, ou encore une personne qui inspire la crainte ou la terreur.deSubstantiv, das eine Peitsche bezeichnet, die zur Bestrafung verwendet wird, oder häufiger etwas, das großes Leid, Unglück oder Tod verursacht, oder eine Person, die Furcht oder Schrecken einflößt.ptSubstantivo que designa um chicote usado para castigar ou, mais frequentemente, algo que causa grande sofrimento, desgraça ou morte, ou uma pessoa que inspira medo ou terror.zh名词，指用于惩罚的鞭子，更常指造成巨大痛苦、苦难或死亡的事物，也指令人恐惧或憎恶的人。arاسم يدل على سوط يُستخدم للعقاب، أو الأكثر شيوعًا على ما يسبب معاناة شديدة أو بلايا أو موتًا، أو على شخص يبث الخوف والرعب.

1. Whip for punishment C1 formal

   A whip or lash used to inflict punishment, often referenced in historical or humorous contexts.

   • The king's guard carried a scourge as a symbol of authority.
   • He jokingly threatened his mischievous cat with a scourge made of yarn.
   • In ancient times, a scourge was used to discipline slaves.

   ruПлеть для наказанияesAzote para castigofrFouet de punitiondePeitsche zur BestrafungptChicote para puniçãozh惩罚用的鞭子arسوط للعقاب

   Synonymes: birchcanehorsewhiplashrawhidestrapwhip

2. Cause of widespread suffering C1 formal

   Something that causes great misery, destruction, or death on a large scale.

   • The plague was a terrible scourge that swept through medieval Europe.
   • Poverty remains a global scourge affecting millions of people.
   • War is often described as a scourge of humanity.

   ruБичesazote (causa de sufrimiento generalizado)frFléau (cause de souffrances généralisées)deGeißelptFlagelozh祸根arبَلاء

   Synonymes: afflictionbaneblightcalamitycursepestilenceplaguewoe

   Antonymes: benefitblessingboon

3. Person who inspires fear C1 formal

   A person who is a source of great fear, dread, or punishment for others.

   • The dictator was a scourge to his own people.
   • The ruthless general became the scourge of the enemy army.
   • She was known as the scourge of dishonest politicians.

   ruБичesazotefrPersonne qui inspire la terreurdeGeißelptFlagelozh祸根arآفة

   Synonymes: oppressorpersecutorterrortormentor

• scourges plural form
• scourges' possessive plural form
• scourge's possessive singular form

A verb meaning to cause great suffering or devastation, or to whip or punish severely.

ruГлагол, означающий причинять большие страдания или разрушения, или жестоко наказывать плетью.esVerbo que significa causar grandes sufrimientos o destrucción, o castigar severamente con un látigo.frVerbe signifiant infliger de grandes souffrances ou ravages, ou punir cruellement en frappant avec un fouet.deVerb, das bedeutet, großes Leid oder Zerstörung zu verursachen oder jemanden grausam zu bestrafen, auch mit der Peitsche zu schlagen.ptVerbo que significa causar grande sofrimento ou destruição, ou punir cruelmente com açoites.zh指造成巨大痛苦或破坏，或指用鞭子残酷地惩罚。arفعل يعني إيقاع معاناة شديدة أو دمار واسع على شخص أو مكان، أو الجلد بالسوط كعقاب قاسٍ.

1. Punish severely C1 formal

   To criticize or punish someone very harshly, often in a public or formal way.

   • The journalist scoured the corrupt politician in her article.
   • The judge scoured the defendant for his reckless actions.
   • He was scoured by the committee for his unethical behavior.

   ruСурово наказыватьesAzotar severamentefrFustiger sévèrementdeScharf bestrafenptPunir severamentezh严厉惩罚arالتعذيب الشديد

   Synonymes: beratecastigatechastiseexcoriatelambasterebukereprimandupbraid

2. Whip or flog C1 formal

   To beat someone with a whip or lash as a form of punishment.

   • In ancient times, slaves were often scoured for disobedience.
   • The soldier was scoured for deserting his post.
   • The historical account describes how prisoners were scoured publicly.

   ruСечь или поротьesAzotarfrFouetterdeAuspeitschen oder geißelnptAçoitar ou chicotearzh鞭打或笞打arالجلد بالسوط

   Synonymes: beatflagellatefloghorsewhiplashswitchthrashwhip

3. Cause destruction C1 formal

   To cause widespread and severe damage or ruin to something.

   • The plague scoured the entire region, leaving few survivors.
   • The invading army scoured the countryside, burning villages.
   • A terrible drought scoured the land, destroying all crops.

   ruОпустошатьesasolarfrRavagerdeVerwüstenptDevastarzh肆虐arيُدمّر

   Synonymes: despoildevastateravage

   Antonymes: cherishpreserveprotectspare

• scourged past participle
• scourged past simple
• scourging present participle
• scourges third person singular