tarnation

noun

tar·​na·​tion ˌtär-ˈnā-shən 

: damnation

—often used as an interjection or intensive

—often used with in

tarnation strike me

—James Joyce

where in tarnation you from?

—Jessamyn West

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

But now, a problem — what in tarnation is all this stuff, these weird terms and phrases being bandied about? —Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2022

What in the wide tarnation is better on a winter’s day than the smell of something sweet baking in your oven? —James P. Dewan, chicagotribune.com, 13 Dec. 2017

The last thing Iowa needs is for its defense to run all over tarnation for 30 minutes while the offense stumbles. —Scott Dochterman, ajc, 15 Sep. 2017

Word History

Etymology

alteration of darnation, euphemism for damnation

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above