comeuppance

noun

come·​up·​pance (ˌ)kəm-ˈə-pən(t)s How to pronounce comeuppance (audio)
: a deserved rebuke or penalty : deserts
One of these days, he'll get his comeuppance for treating people so arrogantly.

Examples of comeuppance in a Sentence

One of these days, he'll get his comeuppance for treating people so arrogantly. as with many action movies, this one ends with a wild chase and an over-the-top fight sequence in which the bad guys finally get their comeuppance
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tiffany Stratton Randy Orton and Jelly Roll vs. Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre WWE has done a great job building up this celebrity tag team match, and Jelly Roll has been a natural as a humble, likable babyface looking to give Logan Paul his comeuppance. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025 But that therapeutic reaction can only be achieved if the heel is effectively malevolent enough that fans want the babyface to dish out comeuppance. Marc Raimondi june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025 As for Sarah, her comeuppance involves less deception and more karma. Noel Murray, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025 Any humor in his portrayal comes from seeing this villain-in-training get his comeuppance. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for comeuppance

Word History

Etymology

come up + -ance

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of comeuppance was in 1859

Cite this Entry

“Comeuppance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comeuppance. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

comeuppance

noun
come·​up·​pance
(ˌ)kəm-ˈəp-ən(t)s
: strong criticism that is deserved
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!