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
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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
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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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Recent Examples of nemesis
The ongoing love-hate chemistry between Avon and his character’s arch nemesis, the head of the Federation, Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce), was an undeniable highlight.
—
Scott Snowden, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The Bills’ odds got better when their nemesis, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was lost for the season with a knee injury.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The pic directed by Giselle Bonilla and starring Will Brill, Rob Lowe and Gillian Jacobs follows a frustrated playwright and middle school theater teacher who learns that his ex-girlfriend has started dating his nemesis, the school’s principal.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Because Andy’s playing the kind of nemesis that smiles at you and puts his hand on you, almost politician-like.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Scott Snowden, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The Bills’ odds got better when their nemesis, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was lost for the season with a knee injury.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The pic directed by Giselle Bonilla and starring Will Brill, Rob Lowe and Gillian Jacobs follows a frustrated playwright and middle school theater teacher who learns that his ex-girlfriend has started dating his nemesis, the school’s principal.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Because Andy’s playing the kind of nemesis that smiles at you and puts his hand on you, almost politician-like.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemesis
Noun
-
Hopefully the vigilante will win!—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
In its sophomore season, Cross is in pursuit of a ruthless vigilante who is hunting down corrupt billionaire magnates.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Santa Clara, California — Mike Vrabel made his nnname in the NFL as a crunching outside linebacker, delivering punishment to opposing offenses and blowing up their plays on his way to winning multiple Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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He was sentenced to an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction intact but sparing him any punishment.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the preview, it was mentioned that Leon has something called the Umbrella curse.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
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In the 2002 comedy, McAdams plays a catty teen who's turned into, yep, Saturday Night Live alum Schneider, via a curse.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And it was signed, black dahlia avenger.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
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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
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And farther north along Gleason Beach in Sonoma County, rapid erosion finally forced officials in 2020 to move a section of the road inland, to further avoid the ocean’s wrath.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
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The mood in the crowd was widespread anger and sadness — recalling the same outpour of wrath that shook the city for weeks after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, although without the widespread rioting that had occurred then.—
Jack Brook,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Besides, high cholesterol is the bane of men in my family, not cancer — so why worry?—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Relationships can feel like both a blessing and the bane of your existence, a source of joy and a source of frustration or resentment.—
Jessica A. Stern,
The Conversation,
23 Jan. 2026
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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The Lightning won the game in a penalty shootout thanks to goals from Kucherov, Gage Goncalves and Jake Guentzel.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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His detractors, however, criticize the mayor for focusing on short-term housing for the homeless at the expense of long-term solutions, threatening to arrest homeless people, and supporting Proposition 36, which Newsom opposed, that toughened penalties against repeat drug and theft offenses.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nemesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemesis. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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