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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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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Examples of nemesis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the ring, somebody must play the good guy and somebody must play their nemesis, the heel.
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Lynette Rice, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2024
There was a brief moment, after the terrorist attacks of 2001, when our political leaders seemed to cast radical Islam as the new Soviet empire — a global nemesis that might fill the gaping hole in America’s self-image.
—Matt Bai, Washington Post, 17 July 2024
Texas nemesis Oklahoma is also making the move, maintaining the Red River showdown (Oct. 12).
—Asher Price, Axios, 11 July 2024
Both to encourage sizable blooms as well as to reduce the incidence of phlox’s number one nemesis, powdery mildew, Dr. Lubell recommends reducing the number of stalks early in the growing season to 6 to 8 per plant.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nemesis 
Lynette Rice, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2024
There was a brief moment, after the terrorist attacks of 2001, when our political leaders seemed to cast radical Islam as the new Soviet empire — a global nemesis that might fill the gaping hole in America’s self-image.
—Matt Bai, Washington Post, 17 July 2024
Texas nemesis Oklahoma is also making the move, maintaining the Red River showdown (Oct. 12).
—Asher Price, Axios, 11 July 2024
Both to encourage sizable blooms as well as to reduce the incidence of phlox’s number one nemesis, powdery mildew, Dr. Lubell recommends reducing the number of stalks early in the growing season to 6 to 8 per plant.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nemesis
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nemesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Nemesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nemesis. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
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