1
as in spell
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
if you tell anyone about this, I swear I'll put the whammy on you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 whammy
The double-whammy of a late start time and sunset coming an hour earlier means many runners are finishing in near darkness.
—
Kristen Geil, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025
High-density metros also tend to see higher home prices, meaning that buyers in these areas face a double-whammy of high home prices and often, high HOA fees.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Jam Sta Rosa—AFP/Getty Images Advertisement The flood-control corruption scandal is a double-whammy for the Philippines.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 Sep. 2025
Richter called it a triple whammy.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whammy
Kristen Geil, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025
High-density metros also tend to see higher home prices, meaning that buyers in these areas face a double-whammy of high home prices and often, high HOA fees.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Jam Sta Rosa—AFP/Getty Images Advertisement The flood-control corruption scandal is a double-whammy for the Philippines.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 Sep. 2025
Richter called it a triple whammy.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whammy
Noun
-
The median spell of unemployment is now about 2½ months, with the average much longer — about six months.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Russo family will return for one last spell-binding iteration of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At the beginning of her music career, Jordan was (rightfully) hailed as a prodigy—a blessing and a curse.—
Grace Robins-Somerville,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Meeting Rachel’s parents and getting that backstory leads her into discovering this family curse.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Will any of this year's crop break the jinx on March 15?—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Diego Simeone’s team have been knocked out of the Champions League by city rivals Real Madrid five times from the 2014 final onwards, giving that ‘jinx’ fresh meaning.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whammy. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
