tarnation

noun

tar·​na·​tion ˌtär-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce tarnation (audio)
: damnation
often used as an interjection or intensive
often used with in
tarnation strike meJames Joyce
where in tarnation you from?Jessamyn West

Examples of tarnation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Drat and tarnation! Erik Kain, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023 But now, a problem — what in tarnation is all this stuff, these weird terms and phrases being bandied about? Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2022 What in the wide tarnation is better on a winter’s day than the smell of something sweet baking in your oven? James P. Dewan, chicagotribune.com, 13 Dec. 2017 The last thing Iowa needs is for its defense to run all over tarnation for 30 minutes while the offense stumbles. Scott Dochterman, ajc, 15 Sep. 2017

Word History

Etymology

alteration of darnation, euphemism for damnation

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tarnation was in 1790

Dictionary Entries Near tarnation

Cite this Entry

“Tarnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarnation. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on tarnation

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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