1scourge 
/ˈskɚʤ/ noun
plural scourg·es /ˈskɚʤ/ noun [count] 1 formal + literary : someone or something that causes a great amount of trouble or suffering
▪ a city ravaged by the scourge of unemployment/poverty ▪ The disease continues to be a scourge in the developing world. ▪ Spelling is the scourge of learners of English. [=spelling is very difficult for people who are learning English] 2 : a whip that was used to punish people in the past
▪ a city ravaged by the scourge of unemployment/poverty ▪ The disease continues to be a scourge in the developing world. ▪ Spelling is the scourge of learners of English. [=spelling is very difficult for people who are learning English]
