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
James Joycewhere in tarnation you from?—Jessamyn West
Jessamyn West
Examples of tarnation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Drat and tarnation!
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023
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
Erik Kain, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tarnation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
alteration of darnation, euphemism for damnation
First Known Use
1790, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tarnation
Cite this Entry
“Tarnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarnation. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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