archnemesis

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The main enemy or rival of a person, whom they keep clashing with.

   Grammar: Often used with a possessive: his archnemesis. Also written arch-nemesis.

   Patterns

   • someone's archnemesis
   • archnemesis of someone

   Sherlock Holmes had Moriarty as his archnemesis.

   My archnemesis at work is the printer that jams every morning.

   The two chess champions were archnemeses for years.

2. 2nouncountablehumorous

   Something that repeatedly defeats or frustrates a person, such as a task or object.

   Grammar: Used jokingly about everyday annoyances.

   Patterns

   • my archnemesis

   Math was always my archnemesis in school.

   The staircase is the cat's archnemesis.

   Parallel parking is my archnemesis.

Word forms

Common combinations

sworn archnemesis

He is her sworn archnemesis.

my archnemesis

My archnemesis from college just got promoted.

comic-book archnemesis

Every superhero needs a comic-book archnemesis.

face your archnemesis

She finally had to face her archnemesis in the final.

longtime archnemesis

The club's longtime archnemesis won again.

Synonyms and how they differ

nemesis

Nemesis can be a person or force that brings downfall, and is slightly less strong than the intensified archnemesis.

rival

Rival is a neutral word for a competitor, while an archnemesis is a bitter, ongoing opponent.

enemy

Enemy is plain and serious, while archnemesis often sounds dramatic or joking.

foe

Foe is a slightly literary word for an opponent in battle or a contest.

Opposites

Word family

nemesis noun

a lasting rival, or a cause of downfall

arch-rival noun

a chief rival

archenemy noun

a chief enemy

nemeses noun

plural of nemesis

Commonly confused: archnemesis or archenemy?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “archnemesis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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