comeuppance

noun

come·​up·​pance (ˌ)kəm-ˈə-pən(t)s 

: a deserved rebuke or penalty : deserts

One of these days, he'll get his comeuppance for treating people so arrogantly.

Synonyms

• castigation
• chastisement
• correction
• desert(s)
• discipline
• nemesis
• penalty
• punishment
• wrath

Examples of comeuppance in a Sentence

One of these days, he'll get his comeuppance for treating people so arrogantly.

as with many action movies, this one ends with a wild chase and an over-the-top fight sequence in which the bad guys finally get their comeuppance

Recent Examples on the Web

Heels going 0-4 meant no heat, and no incentive for fans to return to see the villains get their comeuppance. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025

Back in the 1990s, the California-as-disaster-epic narrative was tinged with some gloating — a comeuppance for a star-making destination that for decades was America’s post-war wonderland. —Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024

Obviously, there is a degree of comeuppance at the end. —Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Dec. 2024

Speaking of comeuppance, Hal was right to flag Dennison’s co-conspirator backing out of the party, as that guy seems to have been the canary in the coalmine. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

come up + -ance

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

comeuppance

noun

come·​up·​pance

(ˌ)kəm-ˈəp-ən(t)s

: strong criticism that is deserved