ˈneməsə̇s noun
( plural neme·ses -əˌsēz ; or neme·sis·es )
Etymology: Latin Nemesis, goddess of divine retribution, from Greek, from nemesis retribution, righteous anger, from nemein to distribute — more at nimble
1.
a. : one that inflicts retribution
many a pursued man fell before his nemesis in the streets — Agnes M. Cleaveland
b. : one that avenges relentlessly or destroys inevitably
c. : a formidable and usually victorious rival or opponent
the baseball team was defeated by the first-rate pitching of its old nemesis
2.
a. : an act or effect of retributive justice
whether in the individual or in the community, overweening self-assertion … was regarded as justly provoking nemesis — Walter Moberly
if they jumped their duty, not one survivor would there be to pursue them with the nemesis of outraged humanity — D.C.Peattie
b. : an inevitable result
this propensity to self-destruction is the nemesis of irrationality — Lewis Mumford
the crisis is the recurrent nemesis of democracy — Harvey Wheeler