Comeuppance

Comeuppance refers to a deserved punishment or retribution for wrongdoing or bad behavior. It signifies a fitting consequence that befalls someone, often after a period of arrogance, malice, or unfair actions. The word implies a sense of justice being served, where the victim or society witnesses the downfall or suffering of the offender. It can range from mild consequences to severe and dramatic outcomes, but always carries the idea of deservedness and often, a sense of satisfaction from the outcome. The severity depends on the magnitude of the initial actions, the suffering it caused, and the context of the situation and may also represent a karmic balance of the universe.

Comeuppance meaning with examples

• After years of cheating and manipulating clients, the unscrupulous businessman finally received his comeuppance when his company collapsed, leaving him bankrupt and disgraced. His former friends all abandoned him and he had to sell everything he owned to survive. It served him right considering the victims and the trail of destruction he left behind.
• The arrogant bully, who terrorized his classmates for years, met his comeuppance when he was finally confronted by a group of students he'd harmed. He was expelled from school after a video of his abuses surfaced online. He realized how much suffering he'd caused but was unable to redeem himself in their eyes, left alone and without any friends.
• The corrupt politician, who had been evading justice for years, finally experienced his comeuppance when irrefutable evidence of his crimes surfaced, leading to his arrest and conviction. The court was packed with spectators who had been affected by his misdeeds, there was barely any room to swing a cat. He was convicted and sentenced to prison, much to the public's delight.
• The gossiping neighbor, who had spent her life spreading rumors and damaging the reputations of others, received her comeuppance when her own secrets were exposed, turning the town against her. Her actions had hurt people and destroyed relationships. She had done so maliciously and thought she could get away with it, in the end, she had no one left.