Preposition: of

• trafficking: His country was also encouraged by the attention being given to the scourge of illicit trafficking in small arms.

• terrorism: The scourge of global terrorism requires the strength of a global response.

• unemployment: Mr Reid said: " The New Deal has made major strides to reduce the scourge of unemployment.

• war: In the year 1800 the scourge of war, with famine in its wake, was raging over Europe.

• poverty: We're just asking that they play their part in removing the scourge of fuel poverty from some of Scotland's most vulnerable households.

• establishment: Lacey became the scourge of the very establishment he was a prominent member of.

Converse of object

• eradicate: We will engage other nations to join in accelerating our efforts to finally eradicate this scourge.

• combat: To combat the scourge of terrorism Member States have also agreed to expand the role of the European Union.

• tackle: For the second Bank Holiday running, police are mounting an operation across the county to tackle the scourge of drunken violence.

• eliminate: The nations of the world are banding together to eliminate the terrorism scourge.

• fight: With three levels of protection available to suit your needs, Secure Mail is the solution you need to fight the scourge of spam!

• defeat: It will require a team effort to defeat the scourge of terrorism.

Adjective modifier

• terrible: Mr Maclean said: " Stalking is a menace to society and a terrible scourge to the lives of victims.

• twin: But these pubs are under threat from the twin scourges of red tape and rising costs.

• ancient: By teaming up with top research institutes, ORBIS is working to eliminate this ancient scourge which has blinded people for centuries.

• global: The Conference succeeded in placing the issue - which the Secretary-General has called a " global scourge " - on the international agenda.

• modern: Waste ( not ) by Ethical Consumer Waste is a modern scourge.

• major: In Africa, illicit trafficking in small and light arms had become a major scourge.