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

Relevance
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 Tanning beds are not a safer option than tanning outside. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 12 June 2026 The agency charged that Mercola and his companies claimed the tanning systems were safe and that research showed that indoor tanning doesn’t raise the risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. — Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 12 June 2026 But will the new ingredient win the trust of Make America Healthy Again skeptics and Gen Zers intentionally tanning? — Kff Health News, Oc Register, 10 June 2026 There’s a sense of summer ease; both are tanned, dressed in casual black tops and trousers, sandals on. — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 7 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
  • Grande licked one of them, and fans were immediately outraged by the moment.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 16 July 2026
  • Some of the flames come close to licking the glass, as the wildfire blows across the tracks.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 15 July 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • Once Turek has finished writhing about on the floor in a shambolic attempt to gather, Czibor is on hand to whip the ball away and tuck it home from six yards, the simplest of tasks.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Zeus and Poseidon are at it again—one hurling thunderbolts, the other whipping the sea into a frenzy.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of whip
Verb
  • By the final week of training, Kerr’s confidence had become impossible to hide.
    — George Edwards, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Archer says Joby is hiding its dependence on money and parts from China, while Joby alleges Archer stole its technology through corporate espionage.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Following the British Grand Prix weekend, Antonelli found his lead slashed to only 25 points over his teammate George Russell, who built on his second-place finish in Barcelona and his victory in Spielberg with a P2 on home turf at Silverstone.
    — Yara Elshebiny, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • One such example is his launching of the pharmaceutical company Cost Plus Drugs in 2022, which is able to slash the cost of prescription medications by selling mostly generic products without the typical middlemen of Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Definition of slash
Verb
  • In IconArrows pointing outwards RANDOM, BUT INTERESTING Russia’s energy infrastructure continues to get pounded by Ukrainian drones.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Vargas pounded a monster second-deck home run in the eighth inning that turned into this game’s only extra-base hit — by either team.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of pound
Verb
  • Some lashed out at United’s fan representatives — volunteers who have been working behind the scenes to try to help.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Torrential rains and strong winds continued to lash the usually arid northern regions of Atacama and Coquimbo, where the government of President José Antonio Kast declared a state of emergency on Monday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of lash
Verb
  • However, during the curtain call, outstanding — or maybe just good-looking — male actors are sometimes pelted with loose flowers by their admirers.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 July 2026
  • In addition to taking part in a yoga session with the goats, Harry was pelted with water balloons on an inflatable obstacle course and asked an emotional question by a 9-year-old girl named Poppy during his time at the festival.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
Definition of pelt

Browse Nearby Words

tams
tan
tandem
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tan

Nglish: Translation of tan for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All