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
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
While losing Mayer will deal a blow to Boston’s infield, Cora believes the team has enough depth to get by.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Schwarzenegger’s appeal to persuadable moderates deal a blow to Newsom’s effort.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 12 Aug. 2025
The Red Sox and Astros each currently hold playoff spots, as do the Padres, who will try to deal a blow to the Giants' wild card hopes.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deal a blow
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.
Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
While losing Mayer will deal a blow to Boston’s infield, Cora believes the team has enough depth to get by.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Schwarzenegger’s appeal to persuadable moderates deal a blow to Newsom’s effort.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 12 Aug. 2025
The Red Sox and Astros each currently hold playoff spots, as do the Padres, who will try to deal a blow to the Giants' wild card hopes.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 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 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share