nemesis
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for nemesis, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person's worst enemy or greatest rival — someone who always seems to oppose or defeat them.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use nemesis
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
archenemy and nemesis
his old nemesis
meet your nemesis
Etymology
From Nemesis, the Greek goddess who punished human arrogance and wrongdoing with fitting retribution.
Full origin of nemesis →Frequently asked questions
What does “nemesis” mean?
The word “nemesis” means a person's worst enemy or greatest rival — someone who always seems to oppose or defeat them. In plain terms, your nemesis is the rival or enemy who always seems to be your downfall.
How do you pronounce “nemesis”?
“Nemesis” is pronounced NEH-muh-sihs (/ˈnɛməsɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “nemesis” in a sentence?
Here is “nemesis” used in a sentence: “The detective finally came face to face with his old nemesis.”
What part of speech is “nemesis”?
“Nemesis” is a noun.
Where does the word “nemesis” come from?
The word “nemesis” comes from Greek. From Nemesis, the Greek goddess who punished human arrogance and wrongdoing with fitting retribution.
Is “nemesis” a common word?
“Nemesis” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nemesis” have?
“Nemesis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person's worst enemy or greatest rival — someone who always seems to oppose or defeat them.
