double whammy
Americannoun
-
two devastating problems, setbacks, or catastrophes.
The double whammy of insomnia and sleep apnea can make a night's rest almost impossible.
-
any doubled quantity or set of two.
Visiting the sandwich shop and the ice cream shop makes a delightful savory-sweet double whammy for lunch.
Etymology
Origin of double whammy
First recorded in 1935–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"If it is warmer, the heat can have a double whammy effect with altitude," Wainwright explained.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
Quantum stocks, more volatile than the broader market, endured Friday’s double whammy.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
For farmers, the seesawing prices have presented a double whammy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
The double whammy of higher tariffs and soaring oil prices, however, warrants greater vigilance by the Fed, according to Waller.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 17, 2026
But misdigestion also carries with it a double whammy; fermenting and/or putrefying foods immediately interfere with the functioning of another vital organ--the large intestine--and cause constipation.
From How and When to Be Your Own Doctor by Solomon, Steve
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
