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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

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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 Beside Foulkes, McKee’s other nemesis in the campaign is a critical bridge in Providence, Rhode Island — New England's third-largest city. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026 Voldemort, Harry Potter Cruel with no hope of redemption, Harry Potter‘s nemesis (Ralph Fiennes in the films) is an old-school unrepentant, power-hungry, control freak. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 The Governors no longer are grouped with Class 5A sectional nemesis Merrillville, which has ended each of their past three seasons. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 There’s the running bit in Bait about Shah getting confused with Dev Patel, and Himesh Patel even appears as Shah’s nemesis also vying for James Bond. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 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
  • 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
  • Havelock neither retreats to the closet nor holds out hope for resolution via vigilante justice.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of vigilante
Noun
  • Sodom and Gomorrah have long stood as paradigm cases of crime and punishment.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Often, his sister said, Isaiah was kept chained up overnight as punishment and left to urinate or defecate on himself.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of punishment
Noun
  • The sequel takes place 25 years after the original 1998 cult classic movie, as the sisters try to break their family curse along with Sally’s daughters Kylie (Joey King) and Antonio (Maisie Williams).
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Sally and Gillian come from a long line of witches and have lived in a resplendent Massachusetts home with their aunts Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest) ever since a curse struck down their father and led to their mother’s suicide.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 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
  • Some religious scholars in Saudi Arabia have preached against developing the area, claiming that its former inhabitants were struck down by the wrath of God.
    — Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • But within this storytelling paradigm, Adnani imbues each scene with a dramatic wrath bubbling just beneath the surface.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of wrath
Noun
  • In This Article Weeds are the bane of any gardener’s existence.
    — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The arrangement was aimed at minimizing the number and cost of change orders, which are the bane of construction projects.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 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
  • The House is embarking on its last days in session before breaking for the midterms, with a final vote expected Wednesday on a bill ratcheting up penalties on Russia.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday voted against commuting Norman’s sentence to a lesser penalty or recommending a 90-day reprieve of execution.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of penalty

Browse Nearby Words

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 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nemesis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nemesis

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