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
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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
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Recent Examples of nemeses
The New York Yankees continue to be the Kansas City Royals’ nemeses.
—
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 May 2026
Various nemeses and side characters enter the fray, from Jim’s archenemy (and also Insta-famous) Pavel to the scally with a sneaker-sniffing fetish who guides Jim and Lucien to their next destination.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Emma Watson and Tom Felton may have played nemeses on screen, but in real-life, the Harry Potter actors were among the closest duos to come out of the franchise.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Yura’s nemeses, who are part of her elderly father’s underwater court, seem to be after her magical flute, an ancient device that controls their kingdom’s dragon.
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 1 May 2026
So have their nemeses in the LAPD.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Pete McBride Advertisement Five and half decades ago, two Colorado River nemeses, Floyd Dominy of the Bureau of Reclamation (pro-dam) and David Brower of the Sierra Club (anti-dam), did just that.
—Pete McBride, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 May 2026
Various nemeses and side characters enter the fray, from Jim’s archenemy (and also Insta-famous) Pavel to the scally with a sneaker-sniffing fetish who guides Jim and Lucien to their next destination.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Emma Watson and Tom Felton may have played nemeses on screen, but in real-life, the Harry Potter actors were among the closest duos to come out of the franchise.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Yura’s nemeses, who are part of her elderly father’s underwater court, seem to be after her magical flute, an ancient device that controls their kingdom’s dragon.
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 1 May 2026
So have their nemeses in the LAPD.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Pete McBride Advertisement Five and half decades ago, two Colorado River nemeses, Floyd Dominy of the Bureau of Reclamation (pro-dam) and David Brower of the Sierra Club (anti-dam), did just that.
—Pete McBride, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemeses
Noun
-
For a storyteller whose works revolve around complicated or slippery romances, life-altering revelations, and fateful everyday encounters, the brutality of the mafia and New York City street vigilantes feels far removed from her own.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
-
He is occasionally asked to comment on acts of public violence, compelled to defend the many vigilantes who have appeared in his wake.—
Kevin Lozano,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The punishments included solitary confinement and use of force.—
Julia Bowling,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
-
Because the costumes are designed by a master, there are hints, cues, little ways that each young lady is able to make her inner self visible, even when it must be done subtlety to avoid the negative attention and terrifying punishments that Gilead’s leadership revels in.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Chants laced with curses echo through Madison Square Garden.—
Albert Samaha,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
-
This energy can even cause a jinx, curses or even death.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation found of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.—
Andrea Lucia,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
Any funds not used for education expenses can remain with the account owner, be transferred to another beneficiary or be rolled into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, free of income tax or tax penalties.—
Jessica Dickler,Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Autonomous task forces of drones could be assigned to defend against specific threats — Russian subs sneaking into the Atlantic Ocean, say, or a possible amphibious landing on Taiwan.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
What’s more, Rick can’t get through to Danny, because the pop star’s brash and aggressive manager (Jack Reynor) refuses to put Rick through, and responds to his claims with threats.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Our roads are concussion- and whiplash-inducing menaces.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Nemeses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemeses. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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