scourge

nouns

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

flagellum, scourge

something causing misery or death

"the bane of my life"

bane, curse, nemesis, scourge

a person who inspires fear or dread

"he was the terror of the neighborhood"

scourge, terror, threat

punish severely; excoriate

scourge

is derived from

is a type of (narrower)

impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on

"The students were penalized for showing up late for class"; "we had to punish the dog for soiling the floor again"

whip

"The religious fanatics flagellated themselves"

flagellate, scourge

is derived from

cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly

"The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion"

desolate, devastate, lay waste to, ravage, scourge, waste