The meaning of TARNATION is damnation —often used as an interjection or intensive—often used with in. How to use tarnation in a sentence.

May 8, 2017 · "What in tarnation?" is one of a big variety of euphemistic expressions of surprise or bewilderment that arose in 18th & 19th century America.

What does the saying 'what in tarnation' mean? Literally? It means eternal damnation. According to etymonline.com, tarnation is a combination of darnation and tarnal. It was first used as a...

TARNATION definition: 1. used to express anger or to add emphasis, to avoid saying "damnation": 2. used to express anger…. Learn more.

Feb 1, 2024 · Tarnation is basically just a gentler version of damnation, much like heck is to hell and darn is to damn. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, tarnation grew out of two terms:...

Oct 31, 2025 · tarnation (comparative more tarnation, superlative most tarnation) Bothersome; devilish.

Throughout the 19th century, “tarnation” gained traction as a common way to express mild frustration or surprise. It became associated with rural America and its folksy charm, often appearing in literature …

tarnation (n.) 1784, a colloquial American English alteration of darnation (itself a minced oath in place of damnation), influenced by tarnal (1790), a mild profanity, clipped from phrase by the Eternal (God), …

tarnation American [tahr-ney-shuhn] / tɑrˈneɪ ʃən / interjection damnation. Tarnation! Burned the fatback again.

The act of damning or the condition of being damned. Used to express anger or annoyance. [Alteration (influenced by tarnal) of darnation.]