scourge

noun

  1. 1

    a whip used to inflict punishment (often used for pedantic humor)

  2. 2

    a person who inspires fear or dread

    he was the terror of the neighborhood

  3. 3

    something causing misery or death

    the bane of my life

verb

  1. 1

    cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly

    The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion

  2. 2

    whip

    The religious fanatics flagellated themselves

  3. 3

    punish severely; excoriate

Synonyms

Also useful for “scourge”:Unscrambler