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

“We need tolerance,” he was quoted as saying, “but good tarnation, there’s such a thing as taking it too far.”

From Washington Post • Jun. 21, 2022

Column: What in tarnation is going on with Southern California sheriffs and coronavirus?

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2021

What in tarnation is the Writer’s Guild of America West?

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2019

“You? That doesn’t make sense. Why in tarnation would you take things that already belong to you?”

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt