as in suntanned
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1
as in whipped
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
2
as in licked
to strike repeatedly
a time when children were routinely tanned for misbehavior
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Recent Examples of tanned
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 May 2026
The ex-spies blended in nicely among the engineers, techies, and tanned retirees from law enforcement and government-adjacent jobs.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
But this gorgeous pair of tanned leather mules has a cork insole and a natural rubber sole for a super high-quality step.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
Sunburnt blush focuses the color in the very center of your face for a just-tanned effect, while the doll-blush trend places it on the apples of cheeks for a smooth look.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 15 Dec. 2025
The boots are made from a twinface sheepskin upper, with fleece and wool on the inside and the tanned skin on the outside.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Nov. 2025
The homey haunt, just a stone's throw from the shore, has served up many ice-cold beverages for tanned locals and sunburnt visitors alike.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
Leo, hired as their lead guitarist, had the right look—rough around the edges, with long dark hair and tanned skin.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Its broad, meticulously kept tanned dunes dissolving into rolling surf and the deep blue Pacific with breathtaking sunsets are a photographer’s dream.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
His skin is tanned, similar to a Lunarian king.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Before then, it was thought that indoor tanners were about 75% percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors, and that just one session in a tanning bed could increase the risk by 20 percent.
—Tori Crowther, Allure, 19 Mar. 2026
Tessum, 36, tall, lean, and tanned, already has two world records for trips to the North Pole.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026
Her privileged best friend, coming off an unsatisfying nose job, takes the drug and shows up the next day blonde, tanned and ready for the runway.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Tall and tanned, the Portland native moved to Palm Springs, yes, during the pandemic.
—Jason Sheeler, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
If carefully tanned, well made, and properly cared for, a real fur hat or coat should last for decades.
—Skye Goode, Outdoor Life, 29 Jan. 2026
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk — still tanned after returning from summer break — addressed the media to discuss the season ahead and eventually offered his two cents on changing NHL fashion.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The biggest is Theroux’s overly tanned and idiotic tech billionaire Benji Barnes, who is dating Emily (Emily Blunt) after recently divorcing his cool wife Sasha Barnes (Lucy Liu) and leaving her with billions.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 May 2026
The ex-spies blended in nicely among the engineers, techies, and tanned retirees from law enforcement and government-adjacent jobs.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
But this gorgeous pair of tanned leather mules has a cork insole and a natural rubber sole for a super high-quality step.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
Sunburnt blush focuses the color in the very center of your face for a just-tanned effect, while the doll-blush trend places it on the apples of cheeks for a smooth look.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 15 Dec. 2025
The boots are made from a twinface sheepskin upper, with fleece and wool on the inside and the tanned skin on the outside.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Nov. 2025
The homey haunt, just a stone's throw from the shore, has served up many ice-cold beverages for tanned locals and sunburnt visitors alike.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
Leo, hired as their lead guitarist, had the right look—rough around the edges, with long dark hair and tanned skin.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Its broad, meticulously kept tanned dunes dissolving into rolling surf and the deep blue Pacific with breathtaking sunsets are a photographer’s dream.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Blond, blue-eyed and perpetually tanned, Harmon served as Groucho Marx’s assistant on the 1961 CBS game show Tell It to Groucho, then starred as a girl in Hawaii who gets mixed up in a robbery in the beach party movie One Way Wahine (1965).
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
His skin is tanned, similar to a Lunarian king.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Before then, it was thought that indoor tanners were about 75% percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors, and that just one session in a tanning bed could increase the risk by 20 percent.
—Tori Crowther, Allure, 19 Mar. 2026
Tessum, 36, tall, lean, and tanned, already has two world records for trips to the North Pole.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026
Her privileged best friend, coming off an unsatisfying nose job, takes the drug and shows up the next day blonde, tanned and ready for the runway.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Tall and tanned, the Portland native moved to Palm Springs, yes, during the pandemic.
—Jason Sheeler, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
If carefully tanned, well made, and properly cared for, a real fur hat or coat should last for decades.
—Skye Goode, Outdoor Life, 29 Jan. 2026
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk — still tanned after returning from summer break — addressed the media to discuss the season ahead and eventually offered his two cents on changing NHL fashion.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tanned
Verb
-
The guy next to me whipped out his phone and zoomed in on the back of the king’s head.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Emery had been incessant in wanting shorter, faster balls from his deeper players, with Villa’s best opportunity of the afternoon stemming from brave passing in combination in the first half, coaxing Fulham onto them before John McGinn whipped a ball into the space behind.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gilgeous-Alexander licked his chops at what Game 1 presented.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
When a boy had licked her neck at a party during the first week of college, a stranger!—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The sculpture, fashioned out of a Styrofoam-like material and painted to look bronzed, belongs to Sundance Square.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The heart of the collection is the Original Wrangler, a take on the Dr. Scholl’s iconic Original Sandal with bronzed metallic hardware and a leather, calf hair or denim strap, and the Original Rodeo, a retro wooden platform sandal available in white leather or calf hair.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Energy prices have skyrocketed, economic growth forecasts have been slashed, food insecurity is back in the spotlight, and access to critical chemicals, aluminum and other products has been curtailed.—
Wendy Cutler,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
The International Monetary Fund has slashed its economic growth forecasts for these countries and expects the economies of Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait to contract this year.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Instead of just hitting the ground, the hail pounded the museum's collection of one‑of‑a‑kind planes and helicopters.—
Bo Evans,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Instead, whole grains and foods are dissembled into molecules which, with the help of artificial colorings, flavorings and gluelike emulsifiers, are heated, pounded, shaped or extruded into any food a manufacturer can dream up.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sloane, who was dressed elegantly in a brown sheath, carried a little purple flower in a plastic cone proffered by Leo, who wore tuxedo pants and kept a restraining-order distance.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Steak and kidney pie with a flaky crust that envelops chunks of steak and mineral-bright nuggets of liver in a deep brown gravy.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Trump lashed out at Leo on social media last month, saying the pope was soft on crime and terrorism for comments about the administration’s immigration policies and deportations as well as the Iran war.—
Matthew Lee,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
Trump lashed out at Leo on social media last month, saying the pope was soft on crime and terrorism for comments about the administration’s immigration policies and deportations as well as the Iran war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
For the longest time, residents in the ruddy north of blue California have agitated for a breakaway state called Jefferson.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Curries — nutty beef panang, a ruddy meatless variation made with pumpkin — emphasize creaminess and mild aromatic complexity.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tanned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tanned. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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