as in nemesis
one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense
the danger of these self-appointed vigilantes is that they sometimes go after innocent people
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Recent Examples of vigilante
As the body count rises, local Inspector Jack Phatudi is drawn into a dangerous manhunt to unmask the vigilante.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The superhero show stars John Cena as Chris Smith, a superhero vigilante named Peacemaker, who was first introduced in 2021's The Suicide Squad.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Ronee Blakley, meanwhile, delivers the film’s most haunting performance as a mother who drinks to forget her role in the vigilante violence that birthed Freddy’s oneiric killing spree.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Now the second season finds Cross in pursuit of a ruthless vigilante hunting down corrupt billionaire magnates.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vigilante
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The superhero show stars John Cena as Chris Smith, a superhero vigilante named Peacemaker, who was first introduced in 2021's The Suicide Squad.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Ronee Blakley, meanwhile, delivers the film’s most haunting performance as a mother who drinks to forget her role in the vigilante violence that birthed Freddy’s oneiric killing spree.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Now the second season finds Cross in pursuit of a ruthless vigilante hunting down corrupt billionaire magnates.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vigilante
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigilante
Noun
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Brandon Miller exited with left shoulder soreness and didn’t return, leaving a gray cloud over the Hornets’ scrappy performance against a team that’s been their arch nemesis.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Oct. 2025
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Trump risks not just a setback to his redistricting power play ahead of the midterms, but delivering a victory to Newsom, his nemesis and a potential 2028 presidential candidate.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When both young people meet their end the Baron saves Christina by putting Hans’ brain in Christina’s body, uniting their blurred identities in a joint thirst for revenge, creating a Gothic avenger who hunts down the aristocratic ruffians who ruined their happiness.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
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Kirk had been building his reputation as an imperious, right-wing avenger on college campuses, debating anyone willing to step up to the microphone to challenge him.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
Cite this Entry
“Vigilante.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigilante. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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