Meaning & use
comeuppance
Last updated
UK/kʌmˈʌpəns/
US/kʌmˈʌpəns/
Meaning
nounsingular
The bad outcome someone finally suffers as a fair result of their bad behavior.
Grammar: Usually with 'get' and a possessive: get his comeuppance.
Patterns
- get your comeuppance
- someone's comeuppance
The cheat finally got his comeuppance when the referee saw him.
Many viewers wanted the arrogant boss to get his comeuppance.
She watched the bully's comeuppance with quiet satisfaction.
Common combinations
- get your comeuppance
- One day you'll get your comeuppance.
- deserve a comeuppance
- They deserve a comeuppance for the lies.
- long-overdue comeuppance
- The thief's long-overdue comeuppance arrived.
- receive comeuppance
- The villain receives his comeuppance in the end.
Synonyms and how they differ
- just deserts
- Just deserts is an idiom with the same idea but sounds a bit more formal.
- retribution
- Retribution is stronger and suggests serious punishment, often by authority.
- payback
- Payback is more informal and may mean revenge rather than fair consequence.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: comeuppance or comeback?
comeuppance vs comeback
A comeback is a return to success or a quick reply, not a punishment.
Practice
After years of cheating customers, the dishonest dealer finally got his ___.
Choose one answer.
Getting one's comeuppance means receiving a deserved punishment. A comeback is a return to success, which would not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “comeuppance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.