tarnation

American  

[tahr-ney-shuhn] / tɑrˈneɪ ʃən /

interjection

1. damnation.

   Tarnation! Burned the fatback again.

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noun

1. damnation; hell (used as a euphemism).

   Where in tarnation is that boy?

adverb

1. damned.

   What's making you so tarnation miserable?

tarnation British  

/ tɑːˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. a euphemism for damnation

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Etymology

Origin of tarnation

First recorded in 1775–85; blend of ’tarnal, dialectal pronunciation of eternal, and darnation ( def. ) (“hell”); damnation ( def. )

Example Sentences

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

“And you wonder why in tarnation I’m going on about this to you,” he said.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson