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
But what in tarnation could you tell somebody with just a drum?
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
