double whammy

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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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 The double whammy establishes the Belgian director as a director to track. John Hopewell, Variety, 22 May 2025 Image If inflation prompts central banks to raise interest rates, African countries with large debt burdens are in for a double whammy. Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025 That's a double whammy for prospective middle-class buyers. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025 The double whammy of losing Lewis and former MuchMusic VJ Juliette Powell in the same week is heavy. Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for double whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double whammy
Noun
  • The title bout bore out as a chess match, as the ISL school traded blows with one of the top MIAA teams from the South Shore.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 19 July 2025
  • Smith shoved the gun in the guy’s gut, took the blow, then left.
    John J. Lennon, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • For these communities and others like them (our thoughts are with the people of Central Texas), several days of disaster usually means years of arduous reconstruction.
    Louis Gritzo, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • In any disaster, responding quickly can help save people and salve the harm.
    Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • And, as her recording career suffered, Francis experienced personal tragedy in 1974 when she was raped at knifepoint in her hotel room after performing at the Westbury Music Fair.
    Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 18 July 2025
  • As the climate crisis accelerates, producing more frequent and devastating tragedies, our leaders must offer more than thoughts and prayers.
    Brian Recker, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Double whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20whammy. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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