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
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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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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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Recent Examples of nemesis
Ahead of the March 8 trade deadline, the Panthers added defenseman Seth Jones, then shocked the hockey world by acquiring longtime nemesis and former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand.
—
Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Kasie finds records tying Gemma to Parker’s (Gary Cole) old nemesis, Kansas City mob boss Carla Marino (Rebecca De Mornay).
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Nor about America’s main trade nemesis under successive administrations: China.
—Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2025
Washington star forward Alex Ovechkin had been Fleury’s chief nemesis when the goalie skated for the Pittsburgh Penguins early in their respective careers, and in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final when Ovechkin’s Caps beat Fleury’s Golden Knights for the NHL title.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Kasie finds records tying Gemma to Parker’s (Gary Cole) old nemesis, Kansas City mob boss Carla Marino (Rebecca De Mornay).
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Nor about America’s main trade nemesis under successive administrations: China.
—Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2025
Washington star forward Alex Ovechkin had been Fleury’s chief nemesis when the goalie skated for the Pittsburgh Penguins early in their respective careers, and in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final when Ovechkin’s Caps beat Fleury’s Golden Knights for the NHL title.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nemesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nemesis
Noun
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Udo Kier gets his fangs ripped out with pliers and Kris Kristofferson is a grizzled vigilante vampire hunter.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2025
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So there's going to be people, vigilantes, superheroes that are involved in that.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Xavier Guzman pleaded guilty in 2023, but received his punishment after the case against his co-defendant, Emilio Corripio, 20, resolved with a guilty plea in March.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2025
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Bear in mind, Houston did not have a first- or second-round pick as punishment for electronically stealing signs, heightening the scrutiny on each selection.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
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This wasn't the first time one reduced me to spewing curses, just the first time a robot has accused me of impertinence.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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But many are finding that blessing comes with a curse.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In September of that year a hurricane hit, and Long Island bore the brunt of its wrath, leaving only destruction in its wake.—
Elyssa Goodman,
Them.,
25 Apr. 2025
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Poland has escaped much of Trump’s wrath over European defense spending, given that Warsaw is looking to invest close to 5% of its GDP on security this year and has repeatedly called on allies to up their own contributions in the arena.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Wolfsbane is part of a larger suite of banes; compounds and derivatives include ratsbane, fleabane, and cow-bane, each name signaling a different poison.—
Laura Murphy,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Feb. 2025
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Charging my Apple Watch every day is the bane of my existence, and despite years of efforts to improve it, the closest that Apple has come is to launch … fast charging?—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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What are penalties for driving under the influence?—
Sarah Linn,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2025
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North Texas lawmakers are calling for stiffer penalties for intoxicated drivers after three members of a Fort Worth family were killed in a November 2023 crash.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2025
Noun
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He’s become the face of President Donald Trump’s threats to abandon Ukraine, massive foreign aid cuts and a deportation policy that has split the public.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
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Further compromising cities' structural integrity is the damage from extreme weather, amplified by climate change, which wasn't included in the study but nonetheless poses a threat.—
Li Cohen
May 8,
CBS News,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nemesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemesis. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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