nemesis

American  

[nem-uh-sis] / ˈnɛm ə sɪs /

noun

plural

nemeses

1. something that a person cannot conquer, achieve, etc..

   The performance test proved to be my nemesis.

   Synonyms:

   Waterloo

2. an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.

3. (initial capital letter) the goddess of divine retribution.

4. an agent or act of retribution or punishment.

   Synonyms:

   Waterloo, ruin, undoing, downfall

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Nemesis British  

/ ˈnɛmɪsɪs /

noun

1. Greek myth the goddess of retribution and vengeance

2. (sometimes not capital) any agency of retribution and vengeance

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Nemesis Cultural  

1. In classical mythology, the Greek goddess of vengeance.

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Discover More

By extension, a “nemesis” is an avenger. One's nemesis is that which will bring on one's destruction or downfall.

Etymology

Origin of nemesis

< Latin < Greek némesis literally, a dealing out, verbid of némein to dispense (justice); see -sis

Explanation

Use the word nemesis to describe someone or something that always causes you major problems, like the runner on another school's track team who, for years, has been beating your time by a fraction of a second. The word nemesis describes a rival who just somehow seems able to get the best of you. It can be someone you compete against, someone whose skills are nearly identical to yours and yet, your nemesis always seems to finish ahead of you, get a higher grade, and generally make you feel flustered. Nemesis can also refer to something that always causes you problems, like public speaking, the nemesis of those who get tongue-tied when nervous.

Example Sentences

According to Drift, TRM and Elliptic, which also tracks cryptocurrency movements, the likely culprit for the April 1 theft is the crypto world’s biggest nemesis: North Korea.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

It's almost like a movie script - Scotland trying to defeat their great nemesis.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

The professional rivalries are real, as J.D. finds when his hiring as Sacred Heart’s new chief of medicine gains him a nemesis in Joel Kim Booster’s wonderfully shady Dr. Eric Park.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

And David plays Lincoln’s nemesis, Stevie Nichols, the very successful former partner of Lincoln’s late mother, upon whom the son remains perversely fixated.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

Bobby’s former nemesis Botvinnik had become Karpov’s teacher.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• adversary