nemesis

noun

ˈne-mə-səs How to pronounce nemesis (audio)
Definition of nemesisnext
1
as in vigilante
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 punishment
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 curse
a source of harm or misfortune irrationality is the nemesis of democracy, for good government depends upon the wisdom of the electorate

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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 nemesis Through a bizarre set of circumstances, Dusty’s drawn into a pickleball quartet comprised of older women, developing a crush on their ringleader (Mary Steenburgen), before squaring off against his nemesis with the future of the club on the line. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 24 July 2026 When Dusty is pulled into a desperate battle for the future of the tennis club, he is forced to face the ghosts of his past, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 23 July 2026 Lowe voices Caroline, a wannabe influencer and Stewie’s formidable classroom nemesis. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 July 2026 Directed by Travis Knight and starring Nicholas Galtizine as He-Man and Jared Leto as his nemesis Skeletor, Masters of the Universe opened in theaters on June 5. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemesis
  1. vigilante
  2. punishment
  3. curse
  4. avenger
  5. wrath
  6. bane
  7. punisher
  8. penalty
Noun
  • Married assassin Yoo Bo Na (played by Gong Hyo Jin, who’s returning to MBC after 15 years) is back to her vigilante ways after a break, but has to evade potential discovery by her husband, an investigative journalist.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh is feeling the weight of the bond vigilantes this week.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 July 2026
Definition of vigilante
Noun
  • On Thursday, the parliament passed a bill to amend the anti-paper leak law, enforcing stricter punishment for those found to be involved with examination leaks, such as a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine up to 50 lakh rupees.
    — Priyanka Salve,Raksha Murali, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of punishment
Noun
  • King portrays her older daughter, Kylie, who sets out to break the family’s curse, and Williams steps into the shoes of the younger daughter, Antonia.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But the Owens family’s 300-year-old curse carries one generation forward, striking Sally’s daughter Kylie and her lover (Xolo Maridueña), who gets hit by a car while bicycling with several bouquets of roses.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of curse
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
  • Of course, the meeting between them all doesn’t go as planned, and the wrath of Francesca and the parents’ indifference leads only to more pain for Robbins.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Throughout Homer’s tale, Odysseus is repeatedly thwarted by divine wrath, nature and human fallibility.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Definition of wrath
Noun
  • But what was designed as the solution has instead become the most contentious problem in tennis, a poster child for the law of unintended consequences and the bane of many players’ existence.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • United Airlines is getting rid of some of its middle seats, the bane of any airline passenger.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Definition of bane
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
Noun
  • Lawmakers have also drafted a bill to regulate traffic through the waterway, including restrictions on certain vessels and penalties for violators, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The measure also extends sanctions against Iran’s energy and weapons industries that were set to expire this year after a bipartisan deal was struck with Senate Democrats to pair the two economic penalties.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of penalty

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nemeses
nemesis
neocon
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Cite this Entry

“Nemesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemesis. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nemesis

Nglish: Translation of nemesis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nemesis

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