1
as in vigilantes
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 punishments
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 curses
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
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Recent Examples of nemeses
By fighting for fairness and equality, while simultaneously asking us to care for others with compassion and empathy (sharing this with our frenemies and nemeses will be hard, but valuable in teaching them to be kind).
—
Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 30 Jan. 2026
Lesbian agitators, such as Good, are its nemeses.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
With a brief mini-break in the rearview mirror, the Charlotte Hornets got back to action Thursday night, taking on one of their nemeses in the Southeast Division.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s talk of death and murder (comically), and many nemeses are intent on destroying each other.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Dec. 2025
Separately, Miranda gives a courtesy notice to all nemeses of Whitney that Whitney may attend her upcoming birthday party.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
The Nevermore kids soon encounter their ideal nemeses in a troop of normie paramilitary Boy Scout types who’ve reserved the camp for the same days.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 30 Jan. 2026
Lesbian agitators, such as Good, are its nemeses.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
With a brief mini-break in the rearview mirror, the Charlotte Hornets got back to action Thursday night, taking on one of their nemeses in the Southeast Division.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s talk of death and murder (comically), and many nemeses are intent on destroying each other.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Dec. 2025
Separately, Miranda gives a courtesy notice to all nemeses of Whitney that Whitney may attend her upcoming birthday party.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
The Nevermore kids soon encounter their ideal nemeses in a troop of normie paramilitary Boy Scout types who’ve reserved the camp for the same days.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemeses
Noun
-
Eventually, this revolt from bond vigilantes will make lawmakers bite the bullet.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Square-jawed detectives were tripping over corpses at midtown construction sites, blind vigilantes were redecorating Hell’s Kitchen with body parts and even poor Lester the doorman ended up dead in an Upper West Side courtyard fountain.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Enhancements result in harsher punishments for the charges, such as extra prison time.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
But students and parents told the Star-Telegram those punishments were never handed out.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The earliest depictions of slavery were already crawling with the terrible proceedings the Gothic tends to depict, from bloody whippings to family curses to the wrathful wraiths of the slain enslaved.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Gamers will know Brok as the beloved weapons dealer with an unrivaled artistry for creative, foul-mouthed curses.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The repeal followed Congress’s zeroing out of penalties for violating Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) targets as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.—
Julian Torres,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The 5200 process can be initiated by anybody concerned about someone who is gravely disabled or a danger to themselves or others (with misdemeanor penalties for abuse of the reporting privilege).—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
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Jurors have also heard testimony about a 2023 investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office into online threats.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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But along with ready cash, the laissez-faire approach brought the banes of corruption, criminal infiltration, and rampant pollution.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the ability to beat back our more routine pathological menaces is a good indicator of the country’s ability to take on bigger, more virulent threats.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
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His job is to help fight these teeny-tiny menaces.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nemeses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemeses. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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