vigilante

noun

ˌvi-jə-ˈlan-tē How to pronounce vigilante (audio)
Definition of vigilantenext
as in nemesis
one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense the danger of these self-appointed vigilantes is that they sometimes go after innocent people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 vigilante In recent years, men in the community have formed a vigilante group to fight back. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 And starring Barbie Ferreira as a vigilante web sleuth, their latest project successfully tapped into an earlier strain of viral folklore that resonated strongly with IndieWire’s chief film critic David Ehrlich. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026 The migrants, mostly from elsewhere in Africa, have already faced vigilante violence. — Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 30 June 2026 Citizen Vigilante stars Hammer as Sanders, a vigilante who takes justice into his own hands. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for vigilante
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigilante
  1. nemesis
  2. avenger
  3. punisher
Noun
  • Her nemesis is Alice Black (Emmy Rossum), a former police detective now answering phones for the FBI.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
  • The Kansas City Royals tangled with a familiar nemesis for perhaps the final time inside the American League Central.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
Definition of nemesis
Noun
  • Speaking of that last vampire subject, this is also a great episode for Jacob Anderson in the B-plot, as Louis plays the reluctant avenger doing that loveable scoundrel Raglan James’s dirty work in two stand-out action sequences.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Instead, the young, webbed avenger kept limber by performing headstands and flips and cartwheels on the grass.
    — Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2026
Definition of avenger
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
Definition of punisher

Browse Nearby Words

vigilant
vigilante
vigilantes
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Cite this Entry

“Vigilante.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigilante. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vigilante

Nglish: Translation of vigilante for Spanish Speakers

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