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.
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Recent Examples of double whammy
After the Chicago Bears were hit with a double whammy on the offensive line, Ben Johnson said discussions about left tackle with GM Ryan Poles have been ongoing.
—
Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
His livestock and the drought were a double whammy on the fragile vegetation, thinning it out to untenable levels.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The double whammy has wreaked havoc on many parts of the islands.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
Heavy snow followed by bitter cold hit Minnesotans with a double whammy of winter.
—Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for double whammy
Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
His livestock and the drought were a double whammy on the fragile vegetation, thinning it out to untenable levels.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The double whammy has wreaked havoc on many parts of the islands.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
Heavy snow followed by bitter cold hit Minnesotans with a double whammy of winter.
—Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for double whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double whammy
Noun
-
Sheehan managed to keep the Rockies from landing the big blow.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The Senate’s quick passage of the 10-day patch was starkly different than the House’s rare overnight session, during which House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was dealt two consecutive blows.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Use a bag bungee Trying to balance a travel tote on top of a rolling suitcase is a disaster waiting to happen, especially when navigating crowded terminals.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
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When the smoke alarm stayed silent, one very loud dog made sure his family didn’t sleep through a disaster.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As investigators struggle to piece together a motive for such a senseless tragedy, multiple family members told CNN Elkins had previously struggled with his mental health.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
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The tragedy in Louisiana is one of the nation's deadliest mass shootings in recent years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Double whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20whammy. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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