1
as in hiding
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 licking
to strike repeatedly
a time when children were routinely tanned for misbehavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tanning
Use self-tanners instead of tanning outside or using a tanning bed.
—
Alex Vance, Parents, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tanning
Alex Vance, Parents, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tanning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tanning
Verb
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Keep scrolling to check out more of the best super discounts hiding in Amazon’s outlet before the weekend ends.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
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The beetle starts to emerge from hiding in the fall and is likely to find its way into homes and buildings during the winter.—
Jordan Green,
Nashville Tennessean,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Without enough physical or mental stimulation, licking can become a way to pass the time.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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As the credits roll, audiences see several Hashiras navigating the creepy castle while licking their wounds.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then, with seemingly no provocation, the man can be seen standing up and whipping out a knife in his right hand.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
17 Sep. 2025
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Greens are guarded with some diabolical sand traps, and the usually whipping wind forces you to plot every shot.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Israeli forces control Gaza City’s eastern suburbs and in recent days have been pounding the Sheikh Radwan and Tel Al-Hawa areas, from where they would be positioned to advance on central and western areas where most of the population is sheltering.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
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Moments later, blue strobes flashed, warped guitar rang out and pounding drums clanged.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On its face, recklessly slashing the federal funds rate by 150-bps would escalate long-term interest rates.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
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Some forsake BOGOs in favor of slashing cents or dollars off select items.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rain was still lashing the windows when my phone rang sometime later—a few minutes or maybe an hour, still well before dawn.—
Rachel Pearson,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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But when this lashing out becomes regular, the partner on the receiving end will start to expect their character to be attacked just as regularly.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Endophytes can be unpredictable; for example, increasing rather than decreasing aphid infestation of beans and wheat, as noted in research from Denmark, or switching from beneficial to parasitic depending on water availability, as Hawkes witnessed.—
Anna Marija Helt,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Sep. 2025
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Go big and paint an accent wall using a moody gray color, or keep it simple by switching out artwork on your mantel.—
Savanna Bous,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In doing so, Martin implicated billionaire bankers, major American corporations, and Colombia’s political elite.—
Martin Suarez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Sep. 2025
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Back on the balcony, the magician was doing his best to charm basketball players Devin Booker and Jordan Clarkson with card tricks.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tanning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tanning. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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