From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishnemesisnem‧e‧sis /ˈnemɪsɪs/ noun [singular] 1 an opponent or enemy that is likely to be impossible for you to defeat, or a situation that is likely to be impossible for you to deal withmeet/face your nemesis In the final he will meet his old nemesis, Roger Federer.2 literary a punishment that is deserved and cannot be avoided
Examples from the Corpus
nemesis• Frank has been a nemesis to House Speaker Newt Gingrich.• This was like a nemesis, like a nightmare come true, even the wording of the headline.• The real damage came from Clippers nemesis Clyde Drexler.• In the end it was only his own meanness and stupidity that brought down nemesis.• Hollins will be keeping his eye on Councilman Keith Beier, his ideological nemesis and verbal sparring partner on the council dais.• The Warriors will face their old nemesis, the Phoenix Suns, tonight in the Coliseum Arena.• Laura Linney is chilling as Lily's social nemesis, Bertha Dorset.meet/face your nemesis• Meanwhile Mr Bageya may be about to face his nemesis.Origin nemesis (1500-1600) Latin Nemesis goddess of destruction, from Greek, from nemein “to give out” 