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Flagellum (Noun)

A whip used to inflict punishment (often used for pedantic humor).

Nouns denoting man-made objects.

The self-righteous blogger wielded his keyboard as a flagellum, whipping up a froth of righteous indignation.
His sarcastic tweet was a flagellum, whipping the trolls into a frenzy of outrage.
The pedantic grammarian lashed his opponents with a verbal flagellum, flaying them alive with corrections.
She cracked her tongue like a flagellum, stinging her brother with a string of insults.
Academia was his flagellum, and with each pompous publication, he whipped himself into a frenzy of self-importance.

A lash-like appendage used for locomotion (e.g., in sperm cells and some bacteria and protozoa).

Nouns denoting animals.

The human sperm cell has a single flagellum that provides the necessary propulsion to reach the egg.
Some species of bacteria, such as E. coli, have multiple flagella that enable them to swim through their environment.
The protozoan cell uses its flagellum to move through the water and capture food particles.
The whip-like motion of the flagellum creates a current that helps the cell to move forward.
In some species of algae, the flagellum is used for both locomotion and sensory perception.