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
Give the bottle a good shake, then pump the airy mousse onto your tanning mitt.
—
Jenny Berg, Vogue, 2 June 2025
Previous Repeal Efforts The tanning tax was intended not only to raise revenue but also to discourage the use of indoor tanning beds.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Sol by Jergens Deep Water Self Tanner Mousse $24 $10 at Amazon
Spring (and prom) are right around the corner, which means that all my girls have been talking about is making sure their skin is tanned to perfection.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 25 Mar. 2025
And if services are bundled, the portion attributable to tanning is taxable.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Jenny Berg, Vogue, 2 June 2025
Previous Repeal Efforts The tanning tax was intended not only to raise revenue but also to discourage the use of indoor tanning beds.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Sol by Jergens Deep Water Self Tanner Mousse $24 $10 at Amazon
Spring (and prom) are right around the corner, which means that all my girls have been talking about is making sure their skin is tanned to perfection.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 25 Mar. 2025
And if services are bundled, the portion attributable to tanning is taxable.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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Transparency is another issue: Pricing for procedures varies wildly and is often hidden until the bill arrives.—
Paulina Wierzbicka,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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The first iteration of Somni opened in 2018 inside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, a restaurant hidden inside of José Andrés’s Bazaar, but closed in 2020 as a pandemic casualty.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Two new friends spent the afternoon chatting, licking our deliciously unexpected delights and beginning a life-long bond.—
Susan Cunningham Euker,
Baltimore Sun,
14 June 2025
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The viral post opens with a quiet, intimate moment: the Labrador sits beside her puppy, gently licking her head.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 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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The left-hander got pounded a year ago and thumped again in his first taste of big-league action for eight runs in five innings against the Washington Nationals.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
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Kamala Harris pounded Joe Biden over his stances on busing from the 1970s—a long-ago dispute that even became fodder for J.D. Vance in 2024.—
Andrew Yang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Verb
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The San Diego native whipped a low cross into the box, which both Adriana Leon and Ascanio narrowly missed.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 June 2025
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Chelsea took the lead on 13 minutes when Neto raced away from deep inside the Flamengo half and opened his body before whipping the ball past Agustin Rossi.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Forecasters said Erick was expected over the coming hours to lash Mexico’s Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge.—
Luis Alberto Cruz,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
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The White House previously lashed out at the CBO after its initial report on the bill, attacking an office traditionally seen as nonpartisan that provides budget analysis for lawmakers in both parties.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Verb
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In March, Standard Chartered slashed its ether price target by more than half.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
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This can slash down response times and aid agents because they won’t get bogged down by simple, repetitive requests.—
Nataliia Onyshkevych,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Rather than steps, the aim is for a wearable that can monitor wellness without pelting the wearer with stats and alerts.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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