1
as in vigilante
one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense
Batman is the Joker's main nemesis and always foils his wicked plots
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
social ostracism was once society's nemesis for those who defied its sexual mores
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in curse
a source of harm or misfortune
irrationality is the nemesis of democracy, for good government depends upon the wisdom of the electorate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nemesis
Trump risks not just a setback to his redistricting power play ahead of the midterms, but delivering a victory to Newsom, his nemesis and a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
—
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Meester plays Abby, Joanne’s nemesis from middle school.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 25 Oct. 2025
Tensions between Mogadishu and the latter even flared into a violent clash near the Kenyan border in December, following a dispute over the re-election of Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, the statelet’s leader and a current nemesis of Mohamud.
—Omar S Mahmood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Quavo plays Straw, Malik’s arch-nemesis.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Meester plays Abby, Joanne’s nemesis from middle school.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 25 Oct. 2025
Tensions between Mogadishu and the latter even flared into a violent clash near the Kenyan border in December, following a dispute over the re-election of Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, the statelet’s leader and a current nemesis of Mohamud.
—Omar S Mahmood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Quavo plays Straw, Malik’s arch-nemesis.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemesis
Noun
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New Yorkers are swarming the polls in record numbers to choose between a historic first, a seismic comeback or a vigilante spoiler for mayor.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
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Sliwa, who is best known as the founder of the subway-vigilante group the Guardian Angels, previously ran for mayor, in 2021, and lost to Eric Adams by nearly forty points.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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As for what the punishment was for Rhoades, the school would not comment any further regarding the incident.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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The passage of Proposition 36, a tougher-on-crime law that placed stricter punishments on repeat drug and theft offenders, has given both agencies more opportunities to try to help those in custody suffering from drug addiction.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In part, this is just a curse of timing for the tournaments being played.—
The Athletic Tennis Staff,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
In Jujutsu Kaisen, heroic jujutsu sorcerers wage war against demonic creatures called curses and the curse users, who wield jujutsu powers for evil.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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When both young people meet their end the Baron saves Christina by putting Hans’ brain in Christina’s body, uniting their blurred identities in a joint thirst for revenge, creating a Gothic avenger who hunts down the aristocratic ruffians who ruined their happiness.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
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Kirk had been building his reputation as an imperious, right-wing avenger on college campuses, debating anyone willing to step up to the microphone to challenge him.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Grace becomes a doting mother, but the house becomes the subject of her wrath.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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Disney is incredibly unlikely to ever admit that politics were a factor in Doctor Who‘s cancellation, but Jimmy Kimmel’s brief suspension was revealing of the company’s desire to minimize MAGA wrath.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Re&Up’s general manager Andreas Dorner discusses the challenges of operating in today’s geopolitical quagmire, how environmental policy can be both a boon and a bane, and where the company is headed next.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Dec. 2025
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The actresses play the delightful mother-daughter duo Angela and Ainsley — who are oftentimes the banes of Tommy's (Billy Bob Thornton) existence — in the Taylor Sheridan series.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Montgomery has barely been in the big leagues for two months but has already put his name alongside a couple of franchise icons (and another hard-core punisher of baseballs).—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Hendrickson proved to be too much, and Suamataia was benched for Morris after allowing two sacks and taking two holding penalties in the second half.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
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Jimenez’s movement drags Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic up the pitch, allowing Smith Rowe to carry the ball forward and progress the attack, which leads to the award of the penalty that proves to be the game’s only goal.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nemesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemesis. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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