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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tan
The addition of a spectacular 215,000-square-foot landscaped garden, complete with tanning decks for sunbathing, plush cabanas and a massive infinity pool, could be the one thing that keeps people off the busy Croisette Boulevard.
—
Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Listen to this article 4 min Heidi Klum (Getty Images)
Heidi Klum posted a cheeky Instagram reel of herself tanning topless poolside on a lounge chair, wearing nothing but a pair of black bikini bottoms.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
For starters, the clear formula comes in a cute little bottle that looks more like a serum than tanning drops.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
Kennedy remains curiously tanned given the absence of sun in the capital.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Listen to this article 4 min Heidi Klum (Getty Images)
Heidi Klum posted a cheeky Instagram reel of herself tanning topless poolside on a lounge chair, wearing nothing but a pair of black bikini bottoms.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
For starters, the clear formula comes in a cute little bottle that looks more like a serum than tanning drops.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
Kennedy remains curiously tanned given the absence of sun in the capital.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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At 19, Johnson married his wife Daphne and initially, was able to hide his drug use from her, the Johnson's clemency petition said.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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This navy/stone style is one person’s solution to hiding their two dogs’ dark-colored fur.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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But Fahy, Alcock, and director Nicole Kassell are also very good at their jobs, and so even downright bizarre moments like Simone chewing Michaela’s used gum or Devon randomly licking a landscaper’s neck wind up making a strange sort of sense.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
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Jose shrugs, pleads with her to not lick anyone at the inn, and leaves.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Underneath her coat, Witherspoon wore an ankle-length black skirt and leather round-toe boots.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2025
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Compare with the Met’s full-size cast, from 1985, and these miniatures cleave the collective anguish into distinct emotions — one figure seems mid-dance, one bored, another ecstatic — in a range of patinas, from dark chocolate to leather.—
Walker Mimms,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Thirty minutes later, Combs was pounding on the apartment door with a hammer, Morgan said.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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Ahead of the Europa League semi-final, Postecoglou spoke to his players about the Stonecutter’s Credo (also known as pounding the rock), an allegory for persistence even when progress may not be visible.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Verb
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This small kitchen appliance has a variable speed trigger switch to make blending, pureeing, frothing, whipping and chopping as easy as pressing a button.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
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The Clippers were playing in Houston and the Clippers were whipping the Rockets’ ass.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
Verb
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In a second Memorial Day social media post, Trump focused largely on lashing out at federal judges and perceived political opponents.—
Alexandra Hutzler,
ABC News,
26 May 2025
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President Donald Trump lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to attack Ukraine while talks are ongoing between the two countries to find an end to the ongoing conflict.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 May 2025
Verb
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His college admissions have been the subject of speculation since the Trump administration's Tuesday, May 27, decision to slash all remaining federal funding to the Ivy League institution.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
28 May 2025
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Some Harvard labs, including one working on human organs-on-chips, which replicate the function of organs, have received stop-work orders following the Trump Administration’s efforts to slash funding.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Already under a tornado watch, the Kansas City metro, along with parts of Missouri and Kansas, were issued a flash flood warning Monday afternoon as severe thunderstorms and quarter-sized hail pelted the area, according to the National Weather Service.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2025
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To that end, Emond includes archival footage of forest wildfires and melting icebergs in her film as Adam braves a storm with heavy winds and pelting rain towards the end of Peak Everything during an iconic go get the guy scene.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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