scourge

1 a long thin or flexible tool for striking the museum display included a scourge, thumbscrews, and other notorious instruments of torture Synonyms flogger, lash, whip, switchRelated Words birch, blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, cowhide, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, rawhide, strap; bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, flail, nightstick, staff

2 one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense the attorney general, who just happens to be a candidate for governor, is a self-proclaimed scourge of organized crime Synonyms avenger, castigator, chastiser, punisher, nemesis, vigilanteRelated Words revenger; redresser, righter; requiterNear Antonyms ransomer, redeemer, vindicator

3 a source of harm or misfortune the sheer ubiquity of food is proving to be the scourge of humanity, as evidenced by the obesity epidemic Synonyms affliction, curse, nemesis, baneRelated Words hex, hoodoo, jinx; danger, hazard, menace, peril, risk, threat, trouble; booby trap, catch, pitfall, snagNear Antonyms advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support; comfort, consolation, solace; delight, joy, pleasure; armor, defense, guard, protection, safeguard, safety, security, shieldAntonyms benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall