double whammy

doub·le wham·my
UK/ˌdʌbl̩ ˈ(h)wæmi/US/ˌdʌb(ə)l ˈ(h)wæmi/

noun

A series of two events that causes adverse effects; a twofold blow or setback.

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Meanings

noundouble whammy (plural double whammies)

plural double whammies · alternative double-whammy

  1. informalA series of two events that causes adverse effects; a twofold blow or setback.

    Martinez is fouled before Zico's disallowed goal. His shirt is pulled and his foot is trodden on as he tries to continue his run. A double whammy. Egypt can have few complaints.

    2026 July 8, Steve Luckings, “Are Egypt right to blame officials (and Fifa) for their World Cup exit?”, in The National
  2. broadlyinformalA series of two events that causes positive effects; a twofold boon.

Origin

From double + whammy (“evil spell; curse or hex”), popularized by the American cartoonist Al Capp (1909–1979), in his classic comic strip Li’l Abner (1934–1977).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Russian двойной удар
  • двойной удар (dvojnoj udar)series of two events that causes adverse effects
Spanish carambola, dupleta
  • carambolaseries of two events that causes positive effects
  • dupletaseries of two events that causes positive effects
  • dobleteseries of two events that causes positive effects

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with double whammy

MiamisammytammygrammySamichamoisdammewhammysammieTammiBeltramitammiejammyclammyramiehammyspammylambiePammyammyammiebammyblammybrami
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

double whammy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/double%20whammy

MLA

“double whammy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/double%20whammy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “double whammy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/double%20whammy.

Source: double whammy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.