body blow

noun

Synonyms of body blownext
1
: a blow to the body
2
: a damaging or deeply felt blow
an economic body blow

Examples of body blow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Russia’s full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine in February 2022 dealt another body blow to the old order. Alexander Stubb, Foreign Affairs, 2 Dec. 2025 In the early rounds, Gretchen played defense against the body blow Tamra delivered at the end of this 19th season, saying that Gretchen had hit the like button on a variety of homophobic or transphobic social media posts. Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 21 Nov. 2025 Sweeping layoffs announced Friday by the Trump administration landed another body blow to the U.S. Department of Education, this time gutting the office responsible for overseeing special education, according to multiple sources within the department. Cory Turner, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025 The tariff hike provoked an immediate outcry in the U.K., with the country's beleaguered steel industry already suffering a number of body blows, including steelworks closures leading to thousands of job losses, and U.S. tariffs of 25% on steel exports to the States. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for body blow

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of body blow was in 1788

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Cite this Entry

“Body blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body%20blow. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

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