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Scourging: meaning, definitions and examples

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scourging

 

[ ˈskaʊrdʒɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

punishment, criticism

To scourge means to inflict severe punishment or suffering on someone, often in a way that evokes feelings of pain or distress. It can also refer to a method of criticism or reprimand that is harsh and unyielding.

Synonyms

flog, lash, lash out, punish.

Examples of usage

  • The dictator scourged his enemies without mercy.
  • The author was scourged by critics for his controversial opinions.
  • In the past, some societies scourged wrongdoers publicly to shame them.
  • During the storm, the winds scourged the coastal towns.

Translations

Translations of the word "scourging" in other languages:

🇵🇹 flagelação

🇮🇳 कोड़े मारना

🇩🇪 Geißelung

🇮🇩 penyiksaan

🇺🇦 смерчування

🇵🇱 biczowanie

🇯🇵 鞭打ち

🇫🇷 flagellation

🇪🇸 flagelación

🇹🇷 kamçı

🇰🇷 채찍질

🇸🇦 جلد

🇨🇿 bičování

🇸🇰 bičovanie

🇨🇳 鞭打

🇸🇮 bičanje

🇮🇸 vöndun

🇰🇿 соғу

🇬🇪 ტყეში გაწვდენა

🇦🇿 cəzalandırma

🇲🇽 flagelación

Etymology

The word 'scourge' comes from the Latin 'scourge', meaning 'a whip' or 'to whip'. Its origins trace back to the Greek word 'skourgos', which refers to a person who punishes or chastises. The development of the term over centuries has seen it evolve from a literal tool of punishment to a more metaphorical sense of infliction of suffering or intense criticism. By the Middle Ages, it began to represent not only physical punishment but also the suffering inflicted by calamities or critics. In literature, 'scourging' often evokes both the physical act of whipping and the moral or social consequence associated with punishment, making it a powerful term in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,868 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.