noun
General Slang
tarnation
tar-NAY-shun · noun · informal
Damnation (softened oath).
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Definitions
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A euphemistic curse used for emphasis, as in "what in tarnation."
“How in tarnation did you manage that?”
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tarnation In A Sentence
How in tarnation did you manage that?
Origin & Usage
American minced oath, a blend of "darnation" (from "damnation") influenced by "eternal/tarnal."
Variants
darnation
People Also Ask
What does "tarnation" mean?
It's a softened curse standing in for "damnation," used for emphasis in phrases like "what in tarnation."
Is "tarnation" offensive?
No. As a minced oath it avoids actual profanity, so it comes across as old-fashioned and mild.
How is "tarnation" used?
Almost always in set exclamations of frustration or surprise, such as "how in tarnation" or "what in tarnation."
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