1. people who whip or flog others as punishment
Usage: historical; often religious context
2. people who cause suffering or torment to others
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The medieval scourgers carried out public punishments in the town square.
• Religious scourgers believed physical pain would purify the soul.
• The cruel scourgers showed no mercy to their prisoners.
• Historical accounts describe the scourgers as feared figures in ancient Rome.
• The tyrant’s scourgers terrorized the local population.
• These scourgers of the innocent finally faced justice.