Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 22, 2026 is:
nemesis • \NEM-uh-siss\ • noun
A nemesis is a formidable foe—an opponent or enemy who is very difficult to defeat. As a proper noun, Nemesis refers to the Greek goddess of vengeance.
// She will be playing against her old nemesis for the championship.
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Examples:
"There were never any doubts about the man playing He-Man's nemesis, Skeletor. ... Frank Langella had caught Goddard's eye in 'Amadeus' on Broadway, and—buried under some impressive make-up—relished the opportunity to ham it up as Eternia's villain-in-chief." — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Did you know?
Nemesis was the Greek goddess of vengeance, a deity who doled out rewards for noble acts and punishment for evil ones. The Greeks believed that Nemesis didn't always punish an offender immediately but might wait generations to avenge a crime. In English, nemesis originally referred to someone who brought a just retribution, but nowadays people are more likely to see simple animosity rather than justice in the actions of a nemesis.