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comeuppance

[ kuhm-uhp-uhns ]
/ ˌkʌmˈʌp əns /
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noun Informal.

deserved reward or just deserts, usually unpleasant: He finally got his comeuppance for his misbehavior.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
their
there
they're
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Origin of comeuppance

1855–60, Americanism; from phrase come up + -ance

Words nearby comeuppance

come unglued, come up, come up against, come up in the world, come upon, comeuppance, come up roses, come up to, come up with, come what may, come with the territory
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to comeuppance

retribution, due, requital, recompense, just deserts

Example sentences from the Web for comeuppance

British Dictionary definitions for comeuppance

comeuppance
/ (ˌkʌmˈʌpəns) /

noun

informal just retribution

Word Origin for comeuppance

C19: from come up (in the sense: to appear before a judge or court for judgment)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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