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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nemesis
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
The Paper centered on Michael Keaton — in his third film with Howard — as Henry Hackett, metro editor of the New York Sun, who navigates a motley roster of colleagues, including his nemesis in managing editor Alicia Clark (Glenn Close), over a 24-hour period to get that day’s edition to newsstands.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2026
And still, Inter Miami incredibly fell apart, allowing four goals to its cellar-dwelling nemesis from Central Florida.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The interest is notable, considering OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (and Musk nemesis) has been dismissive of orbiting data centers, an unproven technology.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
The Paper centered on Michael Keaton — in his third film with Howard — as Henry Hackett, metro editor of the New York Sun, who navigates a motley roster of colleagues, including his nemesis in managing editor Alicia Clark (Glenn Close), over a 24-hour period to get that day’s edition to newsstands.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2026
And still, Inter Miami incredibly fell apart, allowing four goals to its cellar-dwelling nemesis from Central Florida.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The interest is notable, considering OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (and Musk nemesis) has been dismissive of orbiting data centers, an unproven technology.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemesis
Noun
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The show, which featured a sizzling performance by Walton Goggins, as an authoritarian vigilante, was an avant-garde breakthrough for television.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Activists say the real death toll may never be known, with users and small-time peddlers gunned down almost daily in mysterious slumland killings blamed on vigilantes and turf wars.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Francis took some punishment from Navarro – a few shots from a baseball bat and a drop kick with a trash can.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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The bipartisan support for the measure comes at a time when federal closures have become longer and more frequent, frustrating lawmakers who say there should be punishment when Congress fails at its most basic legislative duty.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
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As words have incantatory power to shift elements of fate, as well as matters of the heart, this project calls forward questions around an alleged family curse from Nagasaki and the writing process as its own counter-spell.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Press conferences can be a blessing and a curse for football managers.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
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But as all the world knows, Edmond Dantès did rise again, transformed from an innocent young sailor into that courtly yet implacable avenger, the Count of Monte Cristo.—
Michael Dirda,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
-
And it was signed, black dahlia avenger.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Joao Gomes, one of the few current players to escape the wrath of disgruntled supporters, lingered on the pitch after his team-mates had left following a brief, post-match lap of appreciation.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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One of the most significant was the hurdle of engineering the enclave to harmonize with nature to resist the wrath of disasters, says Syd Kitson, founder and visionary behind Babcock Ranch.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Triangle-shaped, prolific, and ever-challenging to manage, nutsedge is a bane to many gardeners’ existences because the underground nutlets formed within its roots establish new plants for every single plant that grows.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
-
For a decade, surfaces of materials were the bane of my existence.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
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
Noun
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Remarkably, their five league draws this season have resulted from equalising goals conceded in the 96th, 92nd, 94th, 97th and 88th minutes, the last three of which — against Paris FC, Strasbourg and Nice — were all penalties.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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The company was hit with the maximum civil penalty of $5,000 per violation, totaling $375 million.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nemesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemesis. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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