double whammy

Definition of double whammynext
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 That double whammy compounds a pressure that was already four years in the making. Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026 But selling stocks in your 401(k) account and withdrawing cash packs a double whammy. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026 For Apple, this is a double whammy. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 7 Apr. 2026 Grocery supply chains Other grocery goods, such as fresh produce, which have more complex supply chains and require refrigeration throughout, could be hit with a double whammy of cost increases. Garrett Downs, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for double whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double whammy
Noun
  • Iran has been degraded by over 13,000 strikes, but has survived and reconstituted, rather than suffering a mortal blow.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The woman, 41-year-old Ja’Marlette Hardy, bit one of the officers during the July 1 encounter, which led to the officer delivering a blow to her head.
    Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Daniel had arrived back in Venezuela the day of the disaster, after being deported from the United States.
    Susana Erazo, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The discrepancy is even more apparent when analyzing major disaster declarations based on presidential elections.
    David A. Lieb, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • For the second year in a row, this quiet Hill Country town is digging itself out of a catastrophe that has mercilessly taken a community trying to heal and set them back on the path of mourning.
    Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Every child identified before a catastrophe reminds us that statistics represent real people.
    Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Delivery had been delayed as the city grappled with the tragedy, a small but unforgettable reminder that Atlanta’s celebration had changed overnight.
    Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Yellowstone sees the most deaths during the tourist months running from May through October, with July featuring nearly 25 percent of all recorded tragedies.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Double whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20whammy. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster