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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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
  • Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh is feeling the weight of the bond vigilantes this week.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 July 2026
  • Countless vigilantes have taken to the roadways armed with trash bags, spray paint, laser pointers, and power drills to render the surveillance poles useless, resulting in arrests and investigations by police.
    Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • Months after demoting six detectives and sergeants in a controversial investigation, the Prosper Police Department is reversing half of the punishments.
    Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • As far as they were concerned, this should always have been taken into account and used as mitigation whenever punishments were being handed out.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • The woods could be hiding places of witches and sorcerers, disguised as the old and feeble, but capable of summoning wonder and terrors, charms as well as curses.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • Iranian lawmakers have drafted a bill to regulate traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, including restrictions on certain vessels and penalties for violators, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The unit routinely struggled to make plays in 50-50 ball situations and also gave up far too many first downs due to defensive pass interference or holding penalties.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Secret Service officials have also highlighted threats against Trump from foreign actors, including Iran—amid the ongoing war.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Experts agree that even lower temperatures can pose health threats to vulnerable populations, especially when combined with high humidity.
    Drew Kann, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 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
  • Those menaces to society take their street tactics with them behind bars and prey on each other.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026
  • Her recent work revives a dreamy Renaissance style to show its absurd incompatibility with the raging, petulant menaces in whom the world’s power is concentrated.
    Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Nemeses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemeses. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on nemeses

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!