tan

verb

ˈtan How to pronounce tan (audio)
Definition of tannext
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 Treatments include hot pools and steam rooms, wax wraps and tanning barrels, plus hearty healthy meals. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 The first version was a tanning oil with benzyl salicylate that promised a safer tan but ultimately had extremely low SPF (a term that wasn’t introduced until 1974). — Kara McGrath, Allure, 16 June 2026 But will the new ingredient win the trust of Make America Healthy Again skeptics and Gen Zers intentionally tanning? — Michael Scaturro, Miami Herald, 15 June 2026 Tanning beds are not a safer option than tanning outside. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
  1. leather
  2. lick
  3. whip
  4. hide
  5. slash
  6. pound
  7. lash
  8. pelt
Verb
  • There was lace everywhere and leather too.
    — Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • From Ikebana studios in Kyoto to leather workshops in Florence and tartan looms in Stirling, a growing number of trips now build entire itineraries around a single craft.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
Definition of leather
Verb
  • That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • One act featured two young women sitting on the stage and licking orange Popsicles (yes, that was the whole act).
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • Ella Langley continues to whip fans into a frenzy on social media.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Deploying everything from pickled green strawberries and fresh peas to whipped labneh with Banyul vinegar glaze, artful Viennoiserie evokes more than a little whimsy that spans sweet and savory.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of whip
Verb
  • The expansion will take players to the brand new realm of Letten — an idyllic land of rural tradition that hides a dark secret just below the surface.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to hide his own extremism and Texans will see right through it.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • But the White House cut its offices and weakened its ability to follow up with cases, as well as slashed funding to research on disparities that people of color face in getting diagnosed and attaining resources for disabilities.
    — Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The brand’s Labor Day sale promotions also slash the original price tag on this extra comfy model by over $1,000.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of slash
Verb
  • Sarajevans still remember his commands to the Serb gunmen pounding the Bosnian capital in early 1992.
    — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Deadly landslides struck Southern and Central California, wiping out hillside homes, and powerful waves pounded the state’s shoreline.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of pound
Verb
  • In the same series of Sunday morning posts, the president also lashed out at Kristen Welker, the moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press, for saying his endorsements of Republican candidates in primary elections this year had shown mixed results.
    — Jeff Mason, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Workers lashed the broad branches together with steel cables and chains.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of lash
Verb
  • Tennessee fans once expressed a grudge toward former coach Lane Kiffin by pelting the Neyland Stadium field with debris, including a mustard bottle and a golf ball, the latter of which struck Kiffin.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Snow crews had to leap into action early Wednesday at the Kansas City Downtown Airport – Wheeler Field after thunderstorms pelted the airport and covered it taxiways with several inches of hail.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pelt

Browse Nearby Words

tams
tan
tandem
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Cite this Entry

“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tan

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tan

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