tarnation

[ tahr-ney-shuhn ]

interjection

1. damnation:

   Tarnation! Burned the fatback again.

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

/ tɑːˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. a euphemism for damnation

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarnation¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From Washington Post

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

From Literature

People named Pretty, Vangie, Beulah, Chilly Willie and Maple who wear blue suede shoes and go to bars called Cadillac Flats and Seashell’s and make declarations like “tarnation,” who work at feed stores and buy things at the Dollar Disco.

From Los Angeles Times

He produced Jonathan Caouette’s surreal auto-doc “Tarnation.”

From New York Times

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

From Los Angeles Times