body blow

noun

1
: a blow to the body
2
: a damaging or deeply felt blow
an economic body blow

Examples of body blow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The strike is just the latest body blow for the company. Chris Isidore and Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024 Just as the state was recovering from the pandemic, which of course dealt a body blow to the all-important tourism industry, the August 2023 wildfires in Maui delivered the second part of a devastating one-two punch. Scott Cohn, CNBC, 18 July 2024 At the same time, the filmmaker sought an equally dynamic tonal register, offsetting the blunt force and body blows with a golden oldies soundtrack heavy on Petula Clark. Ben Croll, Variety, 22 June 2024 The tandem hit one massive shot after another, fending off every Minnesota body blow in the process, and putting Minnesota’s season in major peril. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for body blow 

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of body blow was in 1788

Dictionary Entries Near body blow

Cite this Entry

“Body blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body%20blow. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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