deal a blow
idiom
formal
: to hit (someone or something) so as to cause harm
He dealt his enemy a mighty blow.
—usually used figurativelyThe factory closing will deal a serious/severe/devastating/crushing blow to the town's economy.
Her career as an ice skater was dealt a fatal blow when she broke her leg.
Examples of deal a blow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Another economic risk for Japan is its trade tension with China, which could deal a blow to its export-reliant economy if Beijing imposes curbs on vital rare earths.
—
Reuters, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Its closure is expected to eliminate hundreds of jobs and deal a blow to Benicia’s tax base in a community long defined by the facility and toxic pollution linked to its operations.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters are backing a New York City Council bill that could deal a blow to companies used to leveraging third-party contractors for delivery.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
Moving one to a neutral site would not only impact Iowa State competitively but also deal a blow to the Ames economy.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deal a blow
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Reuters, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Its closure is expected to eliminate hundreds of jobs and deal a blow to Benicia’s tax base in a community long defined by the facility and toxic pollution linked to its operations.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters are backing a New York City Council bill that could deal a blow to companies used to leveraging third-party contractors for delivery.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
Moving one to a neutral site would not only impact Iowa State competitively but also deal a blow to the Ames economy.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deal a blow
Cite this Entry
“Deal a blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal%20a%20blow. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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