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 Use the Right Size Rugs Rugs instantly warm and ground a space, but getting them right is a double whammy. Berit Thorkelson, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025 Tariffs and tax cuts are a double whammy for lower earners The benefits of the 2017 Trump tax cuts were skewed toward higher earners, nearly all analyses of the legislation show. Tobias Burns, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025 The new tariffs are a double whammy because coffee makers were already dealing with higher wholesale prices for arabica beans — the most popular type — because of extreme weather that has impacted the world's top producers. Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025 The combination of already dry lips and dry airplane cabin air can be a double whammy that wreaks havoc, so having this on flights is a must. Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for double whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double whammy
Noun
  • The lawyers claim the measure signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this month has already dealt significant blows to campaigns to expand Medicaid and legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
    Kate Payne, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025
  • In the rear of an IndyCar vehicle is a safety device called an attenuator, designed to cushion the blow from a rear impact into the wall.
    Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • The first episode features the recreation by actors of actual communication or lack of communication between the pilot and his junior officer that led to these disasters.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
  • After the fires, the governor formed the Climate Advisory Team (CAT) to develop climate disaster policy recommendations.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The narrative moves between Joan’s ascent through the ranks, including a love story as explosive as a rocket launch, and a mid-decade disaster reminiscent of the Challenger tragedy.
    Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
  • Saar says the phrase refers to those seeking to export violence beyond the Middle East to places like America, making the D.C. shooting much more than a local tragedy.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 31 May 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 5 Jun. 2025.

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