as in nemeses
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 vigilantes
The southern United States under the Jim Crow system of segregation, for example, was governed by a form of racial fascism premised not on a single powerful leader, but on decentralized groups of vigilantes and terrorists.
—
Literary Hub, 30 Jan. 2026
Peaceful Civil Rights-era marches and protests often turned into bloody, brutal and murderous affairs, fueled by inhumane law enforcement tactics and vigilantes operating with impunity.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Very occasionally, news reached Talayan from Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost major island, where the flashy mayor of Davao City had dispatched cops and vigilantes to execute drug dealers.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The resultant impunity means people turn to alternative structures for protection, from vigilantes to the very criminals that oppress them.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
But Grainier’s defining quality translates to inaction when a group of vigilantes attacks one of his co-workers.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
But vigilantes aren't the answer.
—Bryce Buyakie, IndyStar, 20 Nov. 2025
So there's going to be people, vigilantes, superheroes that are involved in that.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
Armed with clubs and pistols, vigilantes went door to door, herding more than three hundred men, women, and children through the streets and out of town.
—Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 30 Jan. 2026
Peaceful Civil Rights-era marches and protests often turned into bloody, brutal and murderous affairs, fueled by inhumane law enforcement tactics and vigilantes operating with impunity.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Very occasionally, news reached Talayan from Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost major island, where the flashy mayor of Davao City had dispatched cops and vigilantes to execute drug dealers.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The resultant impunity means people turn to alternative structures for protection, from vigilantes to the very criminals that oppress them.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
But Grainier’s defining quality translates to inaction when a group of vigilantes attacks one of his co-workers.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
But vigilantes aren't the answer.
—Bryce Buyakie, IndyStar, 20 Nov. 2025
So there's going to be people, vigilantes, superheroes that are involved in that.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
Armed with clubs and pistols, vigilantes went door to door, herding more than three hundred men, women, and children through the streets and out of town.
—Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigilantes
nemeses
Noun
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By fighting for fairness and equality, while simultaneously asking us to care for others with compassion and empathy (sharing this with our frenemies and nemeses will be hard, but valuable in teaching them to be kind).—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Lesbian agitators, such as Good, are its nemeses.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vigilantes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigilantes. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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