1
as in to lash
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible Grandpa told us that when he was a kid, if he misbehaved at all, his father would tan his backside with a belt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly a time when children were routinely tanned for misbehavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 tan Tessum, 36, tall, lean, and tanned, already has two world records for trips to the North Pole. —
Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026 Her privileged best friend, coming off an unsatisfying nose job, takes the drug and shows up the next day blonde, tanned and ready for the runway. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026 Tall and tanned, the Portland native moved to Palm Springs, yes, during the pandemic. —Jason Sheeler, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026 If carefully tanned, well made, and properly cared for, a real fur hat or coat should last for decades. —Skye Goode, Outdoor Life, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tan
Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026 Her privileged best friend, coming off an unsatisfying nose job, takes the drug and shows up the next day blonde, tanned and ready for the runway. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026 Tall and tanned, the Portland native moved to Palm Springs, yes, during the pandemic. —Jason Sheeler, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026 If carefully tanned, well made, and properly cared for, a real fur hat or coat should last for decades. —Skye Goode, Outdoor Life, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Carlson — and other right-wing influencers — in recent months who have become disenchanted with the president.— Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
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Trump lashed out at them and Tucker in a long, rambling social media post earlier this month.— Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There’s Cassie licking a melting ice cream cone as the ice cream drips down her bare chest.— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 20 Apr. 2026
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Other players use wet towels or even lick their hands and wipe the bottom of their shoes to get more grip.— Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Canty is one of the coaches who whips students into shape.— Terell Bailey, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
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Johnson whipped out his phone and shared a photo of Maivia with the audience, who applauded at the likeness.— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Neither made any attempt to hide their contempt for the other from the media or the public.— Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
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Unlike other bands who have used a hiatus as an excuse to hide acrimony, James says the members went their separate ways with zero animosity.— Daniel Kohn, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The main space includes a custom kitchen with an induction Verona stove, leathered granite counters and a large copper farmhouse sink.— Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
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Inside, the home features 10-foot coffered ceilings, white oak floors, and a kitchen with a La Cornue range and light leathered marble countertops.— BusinessDen, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Workers and technicians are hammering away in preparation for the return of Blue Man Group to Orlando, right down to the placement and pounding of PVC pipes, one of the ensemble’s distinctive musical instruments.— Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
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Moisés Ballesteros, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ homered, and the Chicago Cubs handed the Mets their ninth straight loss, pounding New York 12-4 on Friday.— CBS News, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But it was scheduled on a day when snow pelted the procession — over an 8-mile journey that students walk from Robb Street near Simms Street and West Colfax into downtown Denver.— Alan Gionet, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
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Not so much because Paul puts on-again, off-again partner Dakota Mortensen into a headlock and then pelts him with metal bar stools — sadly, this is a scene that would not be out of place on many reality shows — but because a small child is in the room.— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Although the state of emergency has slashed El Salvador’s homicide rate, authorities have arrested over 91,000 people, with human rights groups documenting thousands of wrongful detentions.— Marcos Aleman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
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European airlines have already slashed short haul capacity for April and May, with the region’s ‘big three’ network carriers — Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and IAG — also cutting transatlantic capacity, Bank of America analysis shows.— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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