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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vigilante
The film exposes the exact moment network television crossed the line from journalism into profitable vigilante justice when Hansen and crew showed up at the ADA’s home.
—
Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The lines drawn were not simply between British officials and frontier vigilantes.
—Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
South African police fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of migrants seeking emergency refuge following a wave of vigilante assaults — violence that has escalated diplomatic tensions with Ghana and Nigeria.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 22 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for vigilante
Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The lines drawn were not simply between British officials and frontier vigilantes.
—Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
South African police fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of migrants seeking emergency refuge following a wave of vigilante assaults — violence that has escalated diplomatic tensions with Ghana and Nigeria.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 22 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for vigilante
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigilante
Noun
-
The second-half substitute headed in Graham Zusi’s corner kick to lift the Americans to a victory over World Cup nemesis Ghana.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Jeffrey Jones played Principal Ed Rooney, Ferris' nemesis, who is dead set on catching Bueller in his foolery, but ultimately fails at his mission.—
Emma Urdangen,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 20 Jun. 2026.
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