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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of nemesis
In preschool, he was given a wordless role as Farmer McGregor in a school production of Peter Rabbit and began hamming it up, counting the missing tomatoes and gesticulating at his nemesis rabbit.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Craig Robinson is Reggie’s nemesis, as the aforementioned Jerry Basmati, a rival player (and cynical Christian), who inherited the post-gridiron media career Reggie imagined for himself.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Jackson hadn't studied his nemesis, the mayor of Chicago, for nothing.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
His nemesis is a dumpster, according to the show.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Craig Robinson is Reggie’s nemesis, as the aforementioned Jerry Basmati, a rival player (and cynical Christian), who inherited the post-gridiron media career Reggie imagined for himself.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Jackson hadn't studied his nemesis, the mayor of Chicago, for nothing.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
His nemesis is a dumpster, according to the show.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemesis
Noun
-
The first superhero movie with a Latino protagonist, Blue Beetle stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime, a recent college grad who accidentally ends up bonding with an ancient alien relic that turns him into a high-flying vigilante.—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
-
That’s my masked vigilante thing!—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If the red card is overturned, the UEFA disciplinary panel would have the power to remove all punishment or reinstate the initial yellow card, which would lead to a one-match ban for a red card for two bookable offences.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
27 Feb. 2026
-
His sentence was the longest punishment brought to date since China imposed the national security law in 2020, essentially silencing Hong Kong's dissent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For Ukraine, the war has been a curse – a curse to survive and adapt long enough to spare Europe’s borders from Russia’s forces and absolve its allies from springing into greater action.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Indeed, various curses and slurs could be heard shouted from the audience at London's Royal Festival Hall, even during some segments broadcast to audiences in England and abroad.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And it was signed, black dahlia avenger.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
By the end of that first half hour, he has been unmasked as the bloody avenger of the backyard.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cape Cod and the South Shore are still coping with the wrath of the Blizzard of ’26.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
New Yorkers only just freed from the snow and ice left by January’s monster storm will once again face winter’s wrath.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At Ereks-Blue Matters, a circular garment manufacturer in Istanbul that counts Fiorucci and Wrangler among clients, the new reporting requirements have been a boon and a bane.—
Tara Donaldson,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Then, as if there was any doubt where this was headed, the Heat made sure there would not be another third-period collapse, which largely has been the bane of this uneven season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The posts often link to unofficial preparation services that collect your personal information — or encourage filing claims that can trigger audits and penalties.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The Patriots advanced to the final by winning a penalty-kick shootout against Fort Walton Beach 2-1 (4-3 PKs), with junior goalie Alex Vanhaeren saved two PKs.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nemesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemesis. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
