tarnation
Americaninterjection
noun
adverb
noun
Etymology
Origin of tarnation
First recorded in 1775–85; blend of ’tarnal, dialectal pronunciation of eternal, and darnation ( def. ) (“hell”); see damnation ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Right now you’re all probably asking yourselves the same question: Who in tarnation is Adam Gelb, and what’s he doin’ in my Surge?
From Slate ● Jul. 26, 2025
Column: What in tarnation is going on with Southern California sheriffs and coronavirus?
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2021
They got soaked in their yachts, broke their necks on their polo ponies and wore themselves to a frazzle walking all over tarnation hitting little white balls with a stick for no reason.
From Washington Post ● May 20, 2019
What in tarnation is the Writer’s Guild of America West?
From Slate ● Apr. 16, 2019
“Where in tarnation did you come up with that?”
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
