double whammy

noun

: a combination of two usually adverse forces, circumstances, or effects

Examples of double whammy in a Sentence

With the cold weather and the high cost of heating fuel, homeowners were hit with a double whammy this winter.
Recent Examples on the Web The double whammy of crippling financial liabilities and Chianti wines’ loss of market share became too much to bear. Vivek Wadhwa, Fortune Europe, 19 Oct. 2024 In the wee hours of Thursday morning, Angelenos will get their first peek at a double whammy astrological delight — a Hunter’s moon that also happens to be a supermoon. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 The double whammy of the pandemic and inflation drove down margins for the first time after more than three decades of high performance. Hope King, Axios, 7 Oct. 2024 But in this case, the area was dealt a double whammy: Heavy rain fell days before Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, then remnants of the storm brought more rain and wind to southern Appalachia. Denise Chow, NBC News, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for double whammy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double whammy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of double whammy was in 1951

Dictionary Entries Near double whammy

Cite this Entry

“Double whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20whammy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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