nemesis

IPA/ˈneməsɪs/
KK[nˈɛməsɪs]IPA/ˈneməsɪs/

nemesis — noun

  • nemesissingular
  • nemesesplural

1. the rival, condition, or obstacle that keeps bringing someone down whenever they

1.名詞C1
釋義

the rival, condition, or obstacle that keeps bringing someone down whenever they try to succeed.

例句

At the city chess finals, Lukas was William's nemesis year after year.

someone's nemesis for repeated defeat

Wet spring weather has been the tomato farmers' nemesis across central Taiwan.

a thing can also be a nemesis

同義詞
  • bane

    often stresses a thing that repeatedly causes trouble rather than a direct opponent

  • undoing

    focuses on what brings someone to failure rather than the rivalry itself

  • bogey

    especially used in sport for an opponent or condition a player struggles against

反義詞
  • ally

    helps you succeed instead of repeatedly defeating you

文法句型

someone's nemesis

be + someone's nemesis

the nemesis of + person/group

用法筆記

Often appears with a possessive, especially when a person keeps losing to the same rival or obstacle. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 can be a thing such as weather, terrain, or a style of play, not only a human enemy.

常見錯誤

❌Rain was our rival on the hike.
✅Rain was our nemesis on the hike.
💡A difficult thing can be a nemesis even when it is not a competitor.

2. a personal enemy or rival who has stayed in opposition to someone for many years

2.名詞C1
釋義

a personal enemy or rival who has stayed in opposition to someone for many years.

例句

Since secondary school, Tariq has called Reema his academic nemesis.

call someone your nemesis

In every election debate, the governor faced the same local nemesis, Zuri.

同義詞
  • archenemy

    stronger and more dramatic, especially in stories

  • foe

    more literary and broader than a long-term rival

  • rival

    can be neutral competition without the personal hostility of nemesis

反義詞
  • friend

    stands on your side rather than against you

  • ally

    supports your goals instead of opposing them

文法句型

call + someone + your nemesis

face + a nemesis

a lifelong nemesis

用法筆記

Usually points to a human enemy with a shared history of conflict. Unlike sense 1, it is less natural for a temporary obstacle or an impersonal problem.

常見錯誤

❌The striker from today's match is my nemesis.
✅The striker I've faced for ten seasons is my nemesis.
💡This sense usually implies a long-running personal enemy, not a one-day opponent.

3. an unavoidable defeat, punishment, or source of ruin that seems earned because o

3.名詞C1
釋義

an unavoidable defeat, punishment, or source of ruin that seems earned because of earlier actions.

例句

The prison sentence was the corrupt broker's nemesis after years of fraud.

nemesis as deserved punishment

Unpaid taxes became the singer's nemesis when the court froze her tour income.

同義詞
  • retribution

    more formal and focused on punishment for wrongdoing

  • comeuppance

    more informal and strongly suggests someone gets what they deserve

  • downfall

    names the collapse itself without always implying moral justice

反義詞
  • reprieve

    a pause or escape from punishment

  • escape

    avoids the punishment or defeat instead of suffering it

文法句型

be + someone's nemesis

become + someone's nemesis

prove to be + someone's nemesis

用法筆記

Common in formal writing about downfall, scandal, or punishment. Unlike sense 1, it can name the deserved consequence itself, not just an opponent or obstacle.

常見錯誤

❌Missing one bus was his nemesis.
✅Years of fraud were his nemesis.
💡This sense suggests deserved punishment or downfall, not ordinary bad luck.