noun
whammy
WAM-ee/ˈwæmi/
A serious setback or harmful blow, often one of several.
The fallen tree delivers a whammy by crushing the work van.
Etymology
An evil-eye hex became a word for a harmful blow or setback; the deeper origin is uncertain.
More examples
- The closure is a whammy for the town.
- Illness and car trouble bring a double whammy.
Forms
whammy
Similar words
- setback
- An event that delays or reverses progress.
- blow
- A damaging event or disappointment.