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
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Recent Examples of tan
While slathering yourself with oil and laying out in the sun is highly (and rightfully) frowned upon in the beauty community, there is one type of oil that dermatologists stand by: the best SPF tanning oils.
—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 24 June 2025
The trips are running every Saturday and Sunday from July 26 to Aug. 24 and depart once per day from the marina at 10:00 a.m.
The 4-hour trip left us tanned and ready to see the crystal clear water from the sky the next day.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 24 June 2025
Additionally, the exclusion of gyms and fitness centers from the tax reduced the tax base, disproportionately affecting smaller, stand-alone tanning salons.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
It’s infused with vitamin E and red algae to brighten the skin, and has an instant tanning effect that works to blur areas of redness or sun spots.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 24 June 2025
The trips are running every Saturday and Sunday from July 26 to Aug. 24 and depart once per day from the marina at 10:00 a.m.
The 4-hour trip left us tanned and ready to see the crystal clear water from the sky the next day.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 24 June 2025
Additionally, the exclusion of gyms and fitness centers from the tax reduced the tax base, disproportionately affecting smaller, stand-alone tanning salons.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
It’s infused with vitamin E and red algae to brighten the skin, and has an instant tanning effect that works to blur areas of redness or sun spots.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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Less than a week after Hegseth suspended them, deliveries abruptly started up again after President Donald Trump said Ukraine needed weapons to defend itself and lashed out at Vladimir Putin with the harshest language he's yet directed at the Russian leader.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
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More than a foot of rain lashed the region before the river flooding on Friday afternoon, NWS meteorologist James Wingenroth told Newsweek.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
Verb
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The Boston Celtics are still licking their wounds following the heartbreaking end to the 2024-25 NBA season.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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And Lil Wayne agrees by licking my face, which is part of the job description for companion dogs.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
9 July 2025
Verb
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The designer was lucky enough to snag some handwoven jacquard with gold thread from a Venetian palazzo, whipping it into a one-of-a-kind lampshade skirt.—
Ari Stark,
Footwear News,
15 July 2025
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Shake briefly to whip, then empty contents into a curved Hurricane glass and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Instead, Boyd said, Lawson and his father were retrieving a car that had been taken from them earlier the night of the disappearance and hidden at a residence on Boston Road, which is north of Bluegrass Parkway.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
8 July 2025
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The green laser shows you where dust might be hiding on your floors, and the LCD screen will tell you about the particle sizes down to the micron.—
Nena Farrell,
Wired News,
8 July 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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Hole-in-the-Wall, a unique rock formation that has a large arch carved through it by the relentless pounding of the ocean.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
7 July 2025
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On Friday, torrential rain pounded the region, causing the Guadalupe River in Kerr County to rise 26 feet in just 45 minutes -- the second-highest on record, officials said .—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 July 2025
Verb
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When a motorcade of DHS agents was executing a search warrant on the property, a massive gathering of protesters waving Mexican flags tried to intercept a part of the convoy by pelting some of the vehicles with rocks and shattering windshields in the process.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
11 July 2025
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Against a backdrop of corporatized Pride Month mega-events that pelt you with free rainbow canteens and bad music, this was much more authentic and communal.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
25 June 2025
Verb
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As empty rows piled up, FIFA slashed prices dramatically — one Chelsea-Fluminense semifinal ticket fell to $13, less than a stadium beer.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
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Club World Cup gets mammoth final in PSG, Chelsea: The FIFA Club World Cup’s debut as a major 32-team event across the U.S. had its negatives -- notably slashed ticket prices to combat lousy crowds for some matches.—
Greg Cote
July 13,
Miami Herald,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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