Nemesis

Definitions

1. An enemy, especially an archenemy.
2. The goddess of divine retribution.
   Greek
3. A person or character who specifically brings about the downfall of another person or character, as an agent of that character's fate or destiny, especially within a narrative.
4. 128 Nemesis, a main belt asteroid.
5. The personification of the "fatal flaw" of a dramatic hero in the style of Greek tragedy.
6. A hypothetical star postulated to be orbiting the Sun to explain a perceived cycle of mass extinctions in the geological record.
7. Polar opposite, especially of a literary character.
8. The principle of retributive justice.
9. A punishment or defeat that is deserved and cannot be avoided; (an instance of) retribution.
   formal, singular, usually

Equivalents

17 more languages

العربيةالعدوّ

Bosanskiодмазда

ΕλληνικάΝέμεσις

Suomiarkkivihollinenkohtalo

Hrvatskiодмазда

Italianonemesi

日本語ネメシス

한국어네메시스

Latinanemesis

Македонскиодмазда

NederlandsNemesistegenpooltegenvoeterwrekende gerechtigheid+ 1 more

PolskiNemezis

PortuguêsNémesis

РусскийНемезида

Српскиодмазда

TürkçeNemesis

УкраїнськаНемезида

Examples

“Batman is in constant conflict with his nemesis, The Joker.”

“The roofer stayed in touch⟳, committed to the downfall of his nemesis, Mikey. One week after his initial phone call⟳, we were on our way to raid Mikey's trite home armed with a federal search⟳ warrant. There were six of us.”

“They were different in many ways but what was it about opposites attracting... […] She was his opposite, but not his nemesis, and they worked well together. She hoped he liked working with her.”

“Jack took many hits to his body from his nemesis, but to his surprise⟳ he barely felt it. Jack's nemesis looked at him with anger in his eyes, clinching his fist to throw⟳ the next blow⟳ and without hesitation he threw another punch[…]”

“Along the way, they meet⟳ Master Wong, who teaches them kung fu and imparts nuggets of Chinese philosophy, knowledge and training that they eventually use⟳ to defeat⟳ their nemesis and save⟳ their village.”

““And then, while he's devouring you with his stare⟳, thinking about how much he wants to lick you up, along comes his antithesis, his polar opposite, his nemesis for want⟳ of a better word—” “Nemesis?” I interrupted, eyebrows journeying up my forehead. “—who swoops you off your feet and away from him,” Heather continued, ignoring my incredulous expression.”

“Even Nathan's close⟳ associates, who are not yet ready to declare⟳ themselves his enemies, accept⟳ that his engineered downfall will be his nemesis for harbouring ambitions beyond his status, and do nothing to alert him to the situation[…]”

CEFR level