body blow

noun

1
: a blow to the body
2
: a damaging or deeply felt blow
an economic body blow

Examples of body blow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Ali covered his face and tried to absorb Frazier’s metronomic body blows, aiming to tire him. Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025 These actions are a body blow to what remains of the postwar global trading rules. Wally Adeyemo, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025 Potential price spikes would deliver a body blow to California motorists, who already pay the highest average price per gallon of gasoline in the country. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2025 Potential price spikes would deliver a body blow to California motorists, who already pay the highest average price per gallon of gasoline the country. Rob Nikolewski, Mercury News, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for body blow

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of body blow was in 1788

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Cite this Entry

“Body blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body%20blow. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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