scourge
noun [ C usually singular ] uk/skɜːdʒ/ us/skɝːdʒ/
灾难，祸害；苦难的根源
something or someone that causes great suffering or a lot of trouble
the scourge of war/poverty/drugs 战争／贫困／毒品的祸害
Pop-up ads have been described as the scourge of the Internet. 弹出窗口广告被称为互联网之祸。
Compare: the bane of something
scourge
verb [ T ] uk/skɜːdʒ/ us/skɝːdʒ/
(CAUSE SUFFERING)
祸害；使苦恼，使痛苦
to cause great suffering or a lot of trouble
The country has been scourged by (= has suffered very much because of) famine in recent years. 近年来这个国家遭受大饥荒的苦难。