whammy
3 synonyms for whammy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A serious setback, or a run of bad luck, often used in the phrase "double whammy" for two problems hitting at once.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use whammy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
double whammy
put a whammy on
whammy bar
Etymology
Built from wham plus the suffix -y, turning the sound of a hit into a noun for a jinx or blow of misfortune.
Full origin of whammy →Frequently asked questions
What does “whammy” mean?
The word “whammy” means a serious setback, or a run of bad luck, often used in the phrase "double whammy" for two problems hitting at once. In plain terms, a big setback or run of bad luck, a curse, or a guitar's pitch-bend lever.
How do you pronounce “whammy”?
“Whammy” is pronounced WA-mee (/ˈ(h)wæmi/ in IPA).
How do you use “whammy” in a sentence?
Here is “whammy” used in a sentence: “Losing his job and his car in the same week was a real double whammy.”
What part of speech is “whammy”?
“Whammy” is a noun.
How many meanings does “whammy” have?
“Whammy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a serious setback, or a run of bad luck, often used in the phrase "double whammy" for two problems hitting at once.
