1
as in to hide
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
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Recent Examples of tan
Actions that usually wouldn’t merit a second thought — taking a shower, going on a road trip, tanning — are suddenly imbued with life-or-death significance.
—
Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 16 May 2025
The unintended economic consequences of the tax included a significant number of tanning salons going out of business and higher loan default rates among tanning businesses in states such as Florida.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Fortunately, Vogue editors and celebrity tanning experts don’t gatekeep their intel on the best self tanners that give a natural glow for every skin tone.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2025
The addition of a spectacular 215,000-square-foot landscaped garden, complete with tanning decks for sunbathing, plush cabanas and a massive infinity pool, could be the one thing that keeps people off the busy Croisette Boulevard.
—Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 16 May 2025
The unintended economic consequences of the tax included a significant number of tanning salons going out of business and higher loan default rates among tanning businesses in states such as Florida.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Fortunately, Vogue editors and celebrity tanning experts don’t gatekeep their intel on the best self tanners that give a natural glow for every skin tone.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2025
The addition of a spectacular 215,000-square-foot landscaped garden, complete with tanning decks for sunbathing, plush cabanas and a massive infinity pool, could be the one thing that keeps people off the busy Croisette Boulevard.
—Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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Though Polish presidential candidates often stand as individuals, rather than representatives of a party, there is little hiding their affiliations, and each major party historically endorses and campaigns for a candidate.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
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Ukraine was able to smuggle drones deep into Russia by hiding them in the tops of flatbed trucks, which parked near military bases before the drones lifted off to attack planes on the runway.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 June 2025
Verb
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The flames that licked through the football fields and tennis courts at Pali High devoured touchstones of an iconic campus—featured in films like Carrie and Freaky Friday.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
5 June 2025
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Besides, Angela already got her lick back from Porsha’s comments about Charles by instigating the already precarious relationship between Porsha and her bestie and bringing Drew the news that Porsha filmed with Dennis.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
Verb
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Underneath her coat, Witherspoon wore an ankle-length black skirt and leather round-toe boots.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2025
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Compare with the Met’s full-size cast, from 1985, and these miniatures cleave the collective anguish into distinct emotions — one figure seems mid-dance, one bored, another ecstatic — in a range of patinas, from dark chocolate to leather.—
Walker Mimms,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Every time my phone rang, my heart started pounding.—
Matt Wolf,
Vulture,
28 May 2025
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Such pollutants accumulate on the ocean’s surface near the Tijuana River, and then are released as wave action pounds the water and forms bubbles that burst.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Verb
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The Clippers were playing in Houston and the Clippers were whipping the Rockets’ ass.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
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This small kitchen appliance has a variable speed trigger switch to make blending, pureeing, frothing, whipping and chopping as easy as pressing a button.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Bosses who lash out to get workers in line, by contrast, often feel a sense of accomplishment.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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The hostilities began when Trump lashed out at Musk's criticism of the Republican tax-cut and spending bill, and quickly escalated into an all-out online brawl on Trump's Truth Social and Musk's X, with prominent businessmen, analysts and political names weighing in on the fight.—
Anniek Bao,Dylan Butts,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The obvious problem is there are not enough things to slash to pay for the irresponsible tax cuts and spending included in the bill.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
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Some protesters hurled large chunks of broken concrete at officers, slashed tires and defaced buildings, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Minutes before a team of fully uniformed, stick-carrying players were to leave the dressing room to take the ice for the national anthem, a rat pelted across the carpet.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
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And then sit there getting pelted by even more rain and win.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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