VIGILANTE Synonyms: 13 Similar and Opposite Words

vigilante

noun

ˌvi-jə-ˈlan-tē

Definition of vigilante

as in nemesis

one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense the danger of these self-appointed vigilantes is that they sometimes go after innocent people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of vigilante And starring Barbie Ferreira as a vigilante web sleuth, their latest project successfully tapped into an earlier strain of viral folklore that resonated strongly with IndieWire’s chief film critic David Ehrlich. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026 Their ultimatum quickly drew in other groups with similar agendas, including Operation Dudula – a violent vigilante group known for physically blocking migrants from entering health facilities and schools. — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026 Outfits like anti-migrant vigilante group March and March have capitalized on this shift, expanding their footprint from the coastal KwaZulu-Natal province directly into economic hubs such as Gauteng. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 Key Facts Citizen Vigilante, which was released last week in theaters, is a movie set in Europe that depicts its leading character as a vigilante who has taken it upon himself to kill criminal immigrants and corrupt government officials. — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for vigilante

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigilante

Noun

Norway’s Andreas Schjelderup chipped the ball toward the goal from the left side, and Haaland leaped, swung his neck and headed it into the net, outjumping Brazil’s 6-foot-3 defender Gabriel Magalhães, his Premier League nemesis.

— Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
On the big screen, the British actor was George Clooney’s villainous nemesis in Tomorrowland (2015) and appeared in the starry ensemble cast of The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019).

— Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 July 2026

Definition of nemesis

Noun

Speaking of that last vampire subject, this is also a great episode for Jacob Anderson in the B-plot, as Louis plays the reluctant avenger doing that loveable scoundrel Raglan James’s dirty work in two stand-out action sequences.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Instead, the young, webbed avenger kept limber by performing headstands and flips and cartwheels on the grass.

— Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2026

Definition of avenger

Browse Nearby Words

vigilant

vigilante

vigilantes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Vigilante.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigilante. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of vigilante

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on vigilante

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tacit

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes