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 The common denominator is an allergy to red meat, but some people get hit with the double whammy of meat and dairy. Andy Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2026 Standardized options included a double whammy of increasing premiums and deductibles or other patient cost-sharing. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Peralta’s season is a double whammy. Will Sammon, New York Times, 21 June 2026 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’s cancellation is a double whammy, as CBS is scrapping The Late Show format for good. Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for double whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double whammy
Noun
  • If the aim, as stated, is to deal an economic blow to Iran, the fact is that the country is already under severe strain.
    Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The impact of yesterday’s sharp drop in South Korean equities transmitted further into US markets overnight, spreading selling sentiment and dealing heavy blows to US semiconductor and memory stocks.
    , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Displaced from their homes, hundreds of families resettled on the low-lying banks of the Trishuli river – only to face yet another horrific disaster on Wednesday.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Purchase and install emergency generators, integrate electrical systems, and conduct testing and preparedness activities so participating rural hospitals can maintain critical services during outages and disasters.
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Summary Coastal and high-risk hotels face soaring insurance premiums, up 45-100%, as natural catastrophe losses escalate.
    Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • That didn’t stop catastrophes like the 2018 fire in the Sierra foothills that destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 85.
    Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But the scale of the tragedy is becoming clear, with social media filled with countless pleas for help – including from the Nepali diaspora overseas.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Quite the tragedy because my brows are such a prominent part of my face.
    Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Double whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20whammy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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