1
as in to lash
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
Tanning beds are not a safer option than tanning outside.
—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
The agency charged that Mercola and his companies claimed the tanning systems were safe and that research showed that indoor tanning doesn’t raise the risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
12 June 2026
But will the new ingredient win the trust of Make America Healthy Again skeptics and Gen Zers intentionally tanning?
—
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
There’s a sense of summer ease; both are tanned, dressed in casual black tops and trousers, sandals on.
—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tan
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
The agency charged that Mercola and his companies claimed the tanning systems were safe and that research showed that indoor tanning doesn’t raise the risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
12 June 2026
But will the new ingredient win the trust of Make America Healthy Again skeptics and Gen Zers intentionally tanning?
—
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
There’s a sense of summer ease; both are tanned, dressed in casual black tops and trousers, sandals on.
—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tan
Verb
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There was lace everywhere and leather too.
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From Ikebana studios in Kyoto to leather workshops in Florence and tartan looms in Stirling, a growing number of trips now build entire itineraries around a single craft.
Verb
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In the end, none of them were fit to lick the boots of Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800.
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But the Carolinas have their own ways of making barbecue finger-licking.
Verb
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Scotland carried the ball for 13 phases to enter Argentina's 22 and Hutchinson whipped an accurate long pass to Tuipulotu on the right wing who scored untouched.
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Olise kept his intentions hidden to the last, shaping up to cross the ball to the back post before sharply turning his hips and whipping his pass into the goalscorer’s path, breaking two defensive lines along the way.
Verb
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For loungability there’s a king bed, a hide-a-bed sofa, a fireplace and theater seats.
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When Fluffy failed to come out of hiding after 24 hours, Melissa Kirby and her husband began making and posting missing cat posters around their neighborhood.
Verb
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The most recent controversy came in January, when the county paid $135,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused Kramer of improperly slashing a property’s value by millions of dollars — then retaliating against the employee who raised alarms about it.
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Last year, the charity Oxfam noted that G7 countries, which collectively account for around 75% of all official development assistance, were set to slash their aid spending by 28% in 2026 compared to 2024 levels.
Verb
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The heart-pounding encounter ended with the calf reunited with its mother, dramatic photos on a cellphone — and the couple continuing on to catch brook trout.
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Dansby Swanson hit three home runs, including a grand slam, Michael Conforto homered twice and the Chicago Cubs pounded the San Diego Padres 23-3 on Wednesday.
Verb
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Ukrainian officials have warned residents to guard against further strikes as Russia lashes out.
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Many on the right lashed out at conservative justices who joined the majority decision.
Verb
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Les Bleus returned to play looking refreshed — practically pelting the Swedish goal with attempts, and yet somehow nothing went in.
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The explosion had balled me up, shoved me aside, and pelted me with hot stones.
Cite this Entry
“Tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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