noun
whammy
WA-mee
Whammy (noun) means a serious setback, or a run of bad luck, often used in the phrase "double whammy" for two problems hitting at once. Example: “Losing his job and his car in the same week was a real double whammy.”
noun
1
A serious setback, or a run of bad luck, often used in the phrase "double whammy" for two problems hitting at once.
"Losing his job and his car in the same week was a real double whammy."
2
Informal: a curse or evil spell.
"She joked that someone must have put a whammy on the team this season."
3
The vibrato bar (or its lever) on an electric guitar, used to bend pitch.
"He dove the whammy bar to get that classic dive-bomb sound."
How to use whammy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big setback or run of bad luck, a curse, or a guitar's pitch-bend lever.
Common pairings
double whammy
put a whammy on
whammy bar
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Word forms
- Plural
- whammies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Losing his job and his car in the same week was a real double _____.
Etymology
Built from wham plus the suffix -y, turning the sound of a hit into a noun for a jinx or blow of misfortune.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for whammy
See all rhymes for 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.
