Crossword Genius

Punish severely (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scourge

<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">punish severely</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(synonyms)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>

(Other definitions for scourge that I've seen before include "Affliction - whip" , "Whip; source of suffering" , "Punish severely" , "Whip; agent of suffering" , "Whip, flog" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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