1
as in spell
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
if you tell anyone about this, I swear I'll put the whammy on you
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2
as in curse
something that brings bad luck
put the whammy on herself by publicly predicting that she would win the tennis tournament
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whammy
The current bills, if approved, would represent a triple whammy against historic districts and a boon to developers.
—
Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
The Sox suffered a triple whammy Wednesday, losing catcher Korey Lee and outfielder Mike Tauchman to injury and then losing the game 3-2 in crushing fashion.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
The truth is, luck had nothing to do with it.
Larson, played here by Paul Walter Hauser, had memorized the five patterns of seemingly random blinking lights on the Big Board, successfully avoided whammies, and took CBS for an unprecedented sum.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
Tariffs can have a triple whammy, adding to worries about inflation, growth and denting confidence.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whammy
Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
The Sox suffered a triple whammy Wednesday, losing catcher Korey Lee and outfielder Mike Tauchman to injury and then losing the game 3-2 in crushing fashion.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
The truth is, luck had nothing to do with it.
Larson, played here by Paul Walter Hauser, had memorized the five patterns of seemingly random blinking lights on the Big Board, successfully avoided whammies, and took CBS for an unprecedented sum.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
Tariffs can have a triple whammy, adding to worries about inflation, growth and denting confidence.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whammy
Noun
-
Jack Harrison returned to Leeds United after a loan spell.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
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Arriving for his second spell, the Scottish 62-year-old has generated a positivity that hasn't been witnessed at the club for years.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Perfection is a blessing and a curse for Virgo parents.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
15 July 2025
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Also, the fact that Ken gets cursed by a crazy old ghost actually helps Momo in her alien abduction predicament, with Momo’s newfound spiritual abilities helping to curb Ken’s curse.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Still, as tempting as this might be for some of you, please avoid the temptation to label his coming season as a sophomore jinx if his team doesn't advance deep into the playoffs.—
Geoffrey Knox,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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Knocking on wood: This age-old superstition is believed to prevent bad luck or jinxes.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American-Statesman,
13 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whammy. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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