nemesis

Someone who is your main enemy or a rival you find especially difficult to beat.

• That team is our nemesis.
• She finally defeated her longtime nemesis.
• The detective faced his nemesis again.

Similar words: archenemy, enemy, rival

Opposites: ally

Common phrases: someone’s nemesis, face a nemesis, longtime nemesis

Someone whose actions cause another person’s final defeat or ruin, often as if this were their fate.

• The betrayed servant became the king’s nemesis.
• His nemesis brought his rule to an end.
• The story reveals who will be the hero’s nemesis.

Similar words: destroyer

Common phrases: become someone’s nemesis, tragic nemesis

A character who represents the personal weakness that causes a tragic hero to fail.

• The nemesis represents the hero’s pride.
• In this tragedy, his nemesis gives his weakness a human face.
• The critic described the character as the hero’s nemesis.

Common phrases: hero’s nemesis, tragic nemesis

A person or character who is completely different from another in their main qualities.

• The gentle brother is the warrior’s nemesis.
• Her nemesis is generous where she is selfish.
• The novel presents two characters as each other’s nemesis.

Similar words: antithesis, opposite

Common phrases: someone’s nemesis, moral nemesis