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as in curse
something that brings bad luck put the whammy on herself by publicly predicting that she would win the tennis tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whammy The truth is, luck had nothing to do with it. Larson, played here by Paul Walter Hauser, had memorized the five patterns of seemingly random blinking lights on the Big Board, successfully avoided whammies, and took CBS for an unprecedented sum. Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2025 Tariffs can have a triple whammy, adding to worries about inflation, growth and denting confidence. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025 The rest of the portfolio Apple : The iPhone maker is experiencing a triple whammy of bad news. Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025 Hellraiser - February 1 The 1987 horror classic forms part of a quadruple whammy as four Hellraiser movies arrive on Shudder on February 1. Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whammy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whammy
Noun
  • Ultimately, in order to protect the world from multiversal chaos, Peter Parker must allow the Sorcerer Supreme to complete the spell.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 14 July 2025
  • Sit for a spell on the gracious front porch or have a meal in the elegant onsite eatery.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • Ancient 'pharaoh's curse' fungus shows promise in killing cancer cells.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025
  • The song breaks Booth's life-defining generational curse.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • Still, as tempting as this might be for some of you, please avoid the temptation to label his coming season as a sophomore jinx if his team doesn't advance deep into the playoffs.
    Geoffrey Knox, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • Knocking on wood: This age-old superstition is believed to prevent bad luck or jinxes.
    Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Whammy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whammy. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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