double whammies

Definition of double whammiesnext
plural of double whammy
as in blows
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for double whammies
Noun
  • Shesterkin’s first thought was about how big the 6-foot-6 Markström was, but the smaller goalie still managed to land the majority of the blows.
    Peter Baugh, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Parks turned into deserts, great skyscrapers leveled by blows from the tails of the monsters, and the entire population threatened in the panic and pestilence that followed the invasion.
    Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • At least 844 people died in what was one of the worst maritime disasters in American history.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • All of these downtowns are traffic disasters.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In 1941, Japan’s Pearl Harbor surprise attack triggered a nearly 2-year chain of American military catastrophes.
    Gil Troy, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • But the effects on Qatar’s economy and global energy markets were profound, offering a glimpse of the catastrophes that might follow a broader Iranian military campaign against energy facilities across the Persian Gulf.
    Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Conrad said tragedies like the one that took Altman’s life remind him and other firefighters of the job’s danger.
    Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Caroline, as an ambassador of her family’s dynasty, has to offer condolences while keeping a stiff upper lip, only able to work through the latest of many tragedies in her life internally.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Double whammies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20whammies. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster