nemeses

plural of nemesis
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

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3

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 nemeses Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeton are workplace nemeses who serve as executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Kayla Olson, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 The actors played each other's nemeses in the comedy series created by and starring Seth Rogen. Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemeses
Noun
  • Besides, though the presence of armed vigilantes helped many in town feel safer, the fact remained that much of Michoacán was still lawless.
    Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • By 1964-65, inflation was on the rise, and bond vigilantes demanded higher yields.
    Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Authorities stopped vehicles owned by Metur associates 14 times in the back half of August, with reviews of drivers' documents that lasted up to an hour, van Duijnhoven said, and punishments that were inconsistent and severe.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Notable Gillian Zucker, Clippers team president, was also penalized for her role as a witness whose report contradicted physical evidence, highlighting the broad scope of the NBA’s punishments following the investigation, The Athletic reported.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In other cases Hoodoo was used to counter the threat of curses, as in the practice of suspending bottles from a tree to trap any malevolent spirits or witches traveling in spirit form.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The cumulative impression of Alice that the book leaves is of someone moving serenely through life, meeting fond blessings and awful curses both with the same calm equanimity.
    Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Seattle also committed 10 penalties, including a handful of miscues at inopportune times for an offense that is still getting its bearings under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Fleury.
    Andrew Destin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • That's why starting this season, a one-game suspension will be given to any player who accumulates penalties from three specific moves — hip drop tackle, horse collar tackle, launching, hit on a defenseless player, and a blindside block.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Players have revealed their concerns about harassment and death threats reaching a traumatizing level.
    Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Still, the threats have increased for the islands of Niihau and Kauai because the storm's forecast track has shifted steadily eastward, the National Hurricane Center said.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 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
  • 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
  • Things don't go well, though, and menaces from across many realities show up to make a big mess.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026
  • There are some crazy laser rays, goofy wipe transitions, robots who are menaces to society, to be sure.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Nemeses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemeses. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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