Whammy is a slang term that typically means something that causes significant harm or misfortune to someone. There are several synonyms for the word whammy, and they include jinx, hex, curse, spell, or charm. All of these words convey the idea of a negative influence or some kind of bad luck that someone experiences. Another synonym for whammy is a setback, which is more focused on an obstacle or challenge to progress. While whammy is not a formal word, it is still commonly used in casual conversation and often draws attention to a significant, and sometimes surprising, event or occurrence that has impacted someone.