DOUBLE WHAMMY Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

double whammy

noun

Definition of 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.

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

The breach is the latest blow to a struggling small city that has faced years of severe budget deficits, pushing it to the brink of insolvency, as well as chronic understaffing in its police, fire and other municipal departments.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
That would be a heavy blow for an economy growing at less than 1% a year.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of blow

Noun

The club was rebuilding after the 1958 Munich air disaster but won a first post-Munich trophy, the FA Cup, earlier that year.

— Andy Mitten, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
In nearby Anderson in Madison County, Indiana, the mayor declared a local disaster emergency and issued evacuation orders Thursday along the swelling White River and other waterways.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

Massive crude stockpiles before the war helped prevent catastrophe when supply dried up.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
As the summer of 2001 wears on through the lens of Kopple’s camera, our knowledge of the coming catastrophe casts a shadow over the proceedings.

— Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

Officials say Monday's tragedy is far from an isolated incident and are urging the public to slow down and pay attention.

— Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Through rapid-fire verbal repartee, constant close-ups, and frantic cuts, Deramas treads a careful line between tragedy and comedy, the latter a psychological weapon against the former.

— Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of tragedy

Browse Nearby Words

double whammies

double whammy

double-wide

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Double whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20whammy. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of double whammy

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

balmy

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes