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
Besides writing book, Stevens has launched a tanning product line that grossed $1 million its first year and has a TikTok following of nearly 500K.
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Mario Paredes will never forget studying literature under Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires.
—
Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
How To Apply Bronzing Drops How do bronzing drops differ from tanning drops?
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025
These days, teens know that bed tanning is dangerous for your skin and choose to self-tan with a product or spray-tan instead—much smarter!1
Prom pashminas.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 11 Apr. 2025
So if sunscreen alone can't prevent you from tanning, what will?
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
How To Apply Bronzing Drops How do bronzing drops differ from tanning drops?
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025
These days, teens know that bed tanning is dangerous for your skin and choose to self-tan with a product or spray-tan instead—much smarter!1
Prom pashminas.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 11 Apr. 2025
So if sunscreen alone can't prevent you from tanning, what will?
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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The boy hides aloft in the Sycamore Gap tree's branches.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
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Each level is also absolutely crawling with secret collectibles hidden in various nooks and crannies, which often tease you with a glimpse through a hole in some impassable wall or rock formation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 May 2025
Verb
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She even, no joke, at one point, spits on the stage and licks it back up.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2025
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When the family's roast dinner was over, the OP (original poster) set the plates and some pots and pans on the floor for her dog to lick.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
27 Apr. 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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Conforto, representing the tying run, pounded a 95.2 mph groundball for an inning-ending double play.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
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From April 3 to April 6, torrential rain pounded the Southeast, causing flooding that put more than 70 million people under flood alerts, killed at least 15, swept away cars and derailed a train.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
8 May 2025
Verb
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After the animal snapped and whipped its tail, Dragich wrangled the gator onto the shoulder of the highway.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
1 May 2025
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Instead, as Gauff belied her recent struggles on her forehand side by whipping the ball up and down into the court and out of her opponent’s easy reach time and again, Świątek looked adrift.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
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As judges have ruled against the Trump administration, the president and his allies have lashed out in response, suggesting judges should not be allowed to constrain Trump's presidential actions and calling for judges to be impeached.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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But Zaharias retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, then lashed his game-winning two-bagger in the bottom of the inning, driving home pinch-runner JT Anderson and Ryder Kelly, who reached base on an error.—
Mike Lefkow,
Mercury News,
8 May 2025
Verb
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The result is a leaner, more transparent value chain that slashes transit times, anchors skilled jobs at home, and gives automakers, wind-turbine producers, battery materials manufacturers, and aerospace primes a domestic alternative to long-distance supply lines.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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Read Next State Politics Plan to slash property taxes passes Idaho House.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
15 May 2025
Verb
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In the past, he has been doused with a milkshake and pelted with cement on the campaign trail.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Janai Mathis and Ariana Gonzalez both drove in three runs while Amari Broughton pelted a home run for the Golden Lions, who scored the game's first eight runs and notched their first victory of the season.—
Erick Taylor,
arkansasonline.com,
15 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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