as in blow
informal
a situation that is bad in two different ways; a situation in which two bad conditions exist at the same time or two bad things happen one after the other
With the cold weather and the high cost of heating fuel, homeowners were hit with a double whammy this winter.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of double whammy
Younger Americans, exposed to the double whammy of high student debt and low entry-level hiring, are under even more financial pressure.
—
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
That’s the double whammy at play here.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Since trees absorb carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas, cutting them to then raise cattle is a double whammy.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Look no further than the second part of today’s morning double whammy, as the Toronto International Film Festival has just announced its sprawling Centrepiece program, just one hour after the New York Film Festival released its own Main Slate.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for double whammy
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
That’s the double whammy at play here.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Since trees absorb carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas, cutting them to then raise cattle is a double whammy.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Look no further than the second part of today’s morning double whammy, as the Toronto International Film Festival has just announced its sprawling Centrepiece program, just one hour after the New York Film Festival released its own Main Slate.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for double whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double whammy
Noun
-
That’s when Carr should be able to deliver the final blow against a USC defense that ranks among the Power 4’s worst against the pass.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Experts say the collapse of the talks marks not only a significant blow for attempts to clean up a heavily climate-polluting industry, undermining decades of negotiations, but also represents yet another failure of climate diplomacy.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Because of its proximity to the stadium, Panoramic Hill is often first in line for disaster preparedness measures, including the thinning of brush and eucalyptus trees on the hill, Berkeley resident Kevin Casey said.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
And why this all might be a financial and environmental disaster waiting to happen.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Kirk's murder is a tragedy – as is any murder.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Here’s how a community dispute escalated into a deadly tragedy.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Double whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20whammy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share