whammy

noun

ˈ(h)wa-mē How to pronounce whammy (audio)
Definition of whammynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 whammy Extreme heat this week has Chicago-area households facing a brutal double-whammy—staying safely cool without triggering a heart-stopping electric bill. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 29 June 2026 This is a real Prime Day deal double-whammy. — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 23 June 2026 As far as going through life’s grand stages is concerned, this has been a double-whammy of pain and powerlessness. — Eric Koreen, New York Times, 21 June 2026 The incident, which was part of a double-whammy of violent encounters for the hijacker that day, was preventable and should have been better controlled, according to a wrongful-death suit filed by Jazzmyn Byrd, the daughter of a man who was shot during the hijacking. — Alex Nettles, AJC.com, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whammy
  1. spell
  2. curse
  3. jinx
Noun
  • After a tough spell, a cup run would do just that — and give those supporters a chance to dream again.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This would be equivalent to creative writing streams of consciousness to hitting the spell check button!
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of spell
Noun
  • That was a full-length movie filmed in 2004 when the Red Sox were breaking their storied curse, and included Johnny Damon and other players in cameos.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The prince, Ashitaka, encounters a forest-dwelling young woman called San on his journey and the two become friends, teaming up to help save the forest and end his curse.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of curse
Noun
  • The ‘seven-year jinx’ — the K-pop industry’s shorthand for the contract expiration point at which groups typically fracture — did not claim TWICE on schedule, but in a way, has just claimed its first member now.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Samba Nation have an opportunity to break that jinx today.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 5 July 2026
Definition of jinx

Phrases Containing whammy

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whamming
whammy
whams
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Cite this Entry

“Whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whammy. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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