1
as in to wait
to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time
upon seeing the sun beginning to sink in the sky, we realized we had tarried too long on the summit of the mountain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to linger
to move or act slowly
the dean tarried in making his decision, still not sure if he should suspend the student or not
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to stay
to reside as a temporary guest
he tarried with us all summer, sleeping on the screened-in porch most nights
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tarry
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Read More: 10 New Year's Traditions From Across the Globe
There was still much reason to pray after Jan. 1, 1863, and so tarrying in prayer on New Year’s Eve became an annual tradition.
—Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024
Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, 1 Sep. 2020
Ingestion of sago palm leaves, seeds or other plant parts causes liver failure, usually signaled by drooling, vomiting, diarrhea or a tarry black stool, depression, appetite loss, abdominal pain, lethargy and jaundice.
—Kim Campbell Thornton, sacbee, 14 Mar. 2018
See All Example Sentences for tarry
Verb
America grew up with these boys and tarried with them through light and dark times.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Read More: 10 New Year's Traditions From Across the Globe
There was still much reason to pray after Jan. 1, 1863, and so tarrying in prayer on New Year’s Eve became an annual tradition.
—Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Often, Petite Sirah produces a wine that is too tarry, too dense, too chewy.
—Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, 1 Sep. 2020
Ingestion of sago palm leaves, seeds or other plant parts causes liver failure, usually signaled by drooling, vomiting, diarrhea or a tarry black stool, depression, appetite loss, abdominal pain, lethargy and jaundice.
—Kim Campbell Thornton, sacbee, 14 Mar. 2018
See All Example Sentences for tarry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarry
Noun
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On my visits home, my mother might at first pretend not to notice me.—
Nicholas Dawidoff,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
The president’s latest barbs came just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Vatican for a fence-mending visit.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, the charming house with a small brook off to the side, stands waiting to be occupied with some, but not a lot, of work required.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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And just wait until the sun sets and the city lights up like a Chinese Christmas tree.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Damp conditions inside the drum encourage mildew and lingering odors that can be tough to remove from fabric.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
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The filmmaker explores how Inés’ coming of age mirrors the lingering wounds of Chile’s political transition to democracy from the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet – a theme at the heart of Martelli’s feature debut Chile ’76, which premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Verb
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This no-reservations Vietnamese restaurant near Union Square can feel frantic, everyone wanting everything at once, but the kitchen stays focused and fearless.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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In conclusion, European and American travelers and operators are adapting to the new, and hopefully temporary, geopolitical situation, with many choosing different destinations and/or timings, as well as different modes of transport and staying closer to home.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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Not only can the viscous substances gunk up the machine, leaving a residue and potentially feeding bacteria, but prolonged exposure to these molecules in the air can have negative effects, according to the American Lung Association.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2026
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That, the researchers surmise, is driving a general eastward flow of material through the viscous mantle.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For now, though, Lozano remains out of sight, but not out of the conversation.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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First, since no one actually knows the future, guessing, speculating, or simply making things up remains the state of the art for almost everyone involved in describing it.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Verb
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When that early foundation is delayed or inconsistent, the effects don’t stay confined to those first years.—
Tina Dello Russo,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
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San Diego is delaying most impacts of a new state law that requires cities to allow high-rise housing near trolley stations and major bus stops — but questions persist about how many bus stops the new law will affect.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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Within moments, the toy’s gelatinous interior exploded, dousing scalding material across his face and hands.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
23 Feb. 2026
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The new Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil is less gelatinous than its predecessor.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarry. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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