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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
a time when children were routinely tanned for misbehavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tan
Guests who are 21 years of age and older can enjoy other adults-only spaces and amenities like a warming pool, swim-up bars, as well as a tanning pool.
—
Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2025
Fur handling is a lengthy discussion for another time, but at the very least, have a plan to skin your catch, then roll it up (fur out) and put it in the freezer, to be sold or tanned at a later time.
—Skye Goode, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
By the Swinging ’60s, Oberon tanned and grew her hair long but kept her identity secret.
—Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Bogs are low-oxygen environments and prevent decay, and chemicals like tannins — used in tanning leather — preserve even the organic tissues from human remains, according to Britannica.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2025
Fur handling is a lengthy discussion for another time, but at the very least, have a plan to skin your catch, then roll it up (fur out) and put it in the freezer, to be sold or tanned at a later time.
—Skye Goode, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
By the Swinging ’60s, Oberon tanned and grew her hair long but kept her identity secret.
—Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Bogs are low-oxygen environments and prevent decay, and chemicals like tannins — used in tanning leather — preserve even the organic tissues from human remains, according to Britannica.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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The couple went viral in 2022 when food blogger Carissa Stanton moved into their former Venice, Calif., home and found old photographs of Dann and Karen hidden in the fireplace.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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The shooter behind the 2023 Nashville elementary school attack that killed six people, including three children, had been obsessively planning it for years while hiding mental health issues from family and doctors, a police report released Wednesday reveals.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The race is being widely viewed as a must-win for Democrats who at the national level are still licking their 2024 election wounds, as well as a potential referendum on Trump and Musk.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025
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Cora appears to enjoy the routine and happily lets the cat lick at the tufts of blonde hair on her head.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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News round-up Real Madrid set up El Clasico in Spain’s Supercopa by leathering Mallorca 3-0 last night.—
Phil Hay,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
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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
Verb
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The show follows Richards pounding the pavement in every shot as he is violently hunted.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2025
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That leaves us with Tim, STILL pounding the pills and booze.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Take it from us and whip out this gem for special occasions versus everyday wear, as Gucci recommends shielding it from direct light, heat, and rain.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Alexander Wennberg’s 10th goal of the season tied the score at 16:46 when his fellow Swede, William Eklund, whipped a pass from the left boards across the goal mouth to set-up the one-time finish with a ton of space to Dostal’s left.—
Josh Gross,
Oc Register,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In early March, tropical storm Alfred battered Australia’s heavily populated east coast, lashing the region with damaging winds and heavy rain for several days as hundreds of thousands of homes in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales lost power.—
Edward Szekeres and Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
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However, Cabello lashed out at U.S. authorities, accusing them of unjustly detaining and deporting Venezuelans under false claims of gang affiliations.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The vacuum, which is typically priced at $450, has been slashed to just $300 at Amazon.—
Amy Schulman,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Big studios have slashed budgets, making life for production crews more financially precarious.—
Steven Kurutz,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Finally, the mottled clumps of gray sky opened and flecks of snow began pelting the faces of the scouts assembled at Canvas Stadium.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2025
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Want to feel your movie seat move, get pelted by wind and snow or even smell a certain scent?—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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