1. (

• scourge

) punish severely; excoriate ;

2. (

• flagellate ,
• scourge

) whip; "The religious fanatics flagellated themselves" ;

3. (

• lay_waste_to ,
• waste ,
• devastate ,
• desolate ,
• ravage ,
• scourge ,

) cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly; "The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion" ;