1
as in to hide
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
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2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
a time when children were routinely tanned for misbehavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of tan
In addition, experts say not to do a laser treatment after tanning or even self-tanning.
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Emily Burns, WWD, 26 Sep. 2024
While Johnson represents exciting progress in the tanning industry, the majority of Black women don’t have access to Johnson’s services or tanning salons that specialize in dark skin.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 22 June 2024
Not to tan, but to catch their bread and butter: bugs.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024
As someone who grew up in the year-round SoCal sun, I was blessed with skin that tans rather than burns (shout-out to my Mexican ancestors).
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tan 
Emily Burns, WWD, 26 Sep. 2024
While Johnson represents exciting progress in the tanning industry, the majority of Black women don’t have access to Johnson’s services or tanning salons that specialize in dark skin.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 22 June 2024
Not to tan, but to catch their bread and butter: bugs.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024
As someone who grew up in the year-round SoCal sun, I was blessed with skin that tans rather than burns (shout-out to my Mexican ancestors).
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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The Super Bowl contender hiding in plain sight Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million contract in early 2019 in what was a record deal at the time.David K. Li, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
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But Bill Belichick has nothing in particular to offer when journalists ask about coaches hiding the effects of the disease.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Nomi Malone licking the stripper pole in Showgirls?Lily Burana, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
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In the series premiere, Rio licked Agatha’s hand in a sapphic (and slightly blood-play oriented) moment of intimacy, and the two also had an almost-kiss at the end of episode four.Quispe López, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Almost from the start, Dharavi was defined by its industries: from the traditional potters of Gujarat who began arriving in the late 1800s, to leather tanners from Tamil Nadu and embroidery workers from Uttar Pradesh.Jessie Yeung, CNN, 29 June 2024
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Look to leather knee-high pairs from Jimmy Choo, Isabel Marant, Khaite, and & Other Stories for a similar version of the model-off-duty style.Laura Jackson, Vogue, 15 Aug. 2022
Verb
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Through the opening 10 minutes, the Pioneers were pounding on the door with two early corners and a shot from distance that sailed just over the crossbar.Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
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In Lebanon's capital, Israeli planes pounded the southern suburb of Dahiyeh overnight and early Friday for the first time in four days, spreading panic after a rare lull.SALLY ABOU ALJOUD AND WAFAA SHURAFA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The offer includes two buttermilk pancakes with glazed strawberries, blueberry topping and whipped topping or its combo of two eggs, hash browns and a choice of two strips of bacon or two pork sausage links.Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
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Use it for everything from creaming butter and sugar to making creamy dips to whipping egg whites into meringues.Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Wack 100 has lashed out against J. Prince in response to the latter mentioning the former during a recent livestream on social media.Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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Indeed, no one is more preoccupied with such star power than Donald Trump himself, who basks in the adulation and approval of luminaries who support him and regularly lashes out at those who don’t.Brian Lowry, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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His 2017 tax law slashed the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.David Ingram, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
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But the vice president has slashed this 16-point lead to just four points, 47 percent to Trump's 51 percent, the final iteration of the poll published Monday shows.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Two years ago, the East Coast team’s fans made news during a matchup against the Cleveland Guardians, whose outfielders were pelted by debris after a New York win.Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
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The reporters surged forward, surrounding him at the center of the clubhouse, pelting him with questions.Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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