1
as in to wait
to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time
upon seeing the sun beginning to sink in the sky, we realized we had tarried too long on the summit of the mountain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to linger
to move or act slowly
the dean tarried in making his decision, still not sure if he should suspend the student or not
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to stay
to reside as a temporary guest
he tarried with us all summer, sleeping on the screened-in porch most nights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tarry
Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024
To avoid suspicion, the young men decided to tarry for a couple of days rather than cross into the neighboring socialist republic right away.
—Longreads, 6 July 2022
Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, 1 Sep. 2020
Ingestion of sago palm leaves, seeds or other plant parts causes liver failure, usually signaled by drooling, vomiting, diarrhea or a tarry black stool, depression, appetite loss, abdominal pain, lethargy and jaundice.
—Kim Campbell Thornton, sacbee, 14 Mar. 2018
See All Example Sentences for tarry
Verb
Read More: 10 New Year's Traditions From Across the Globe
There was still much reason to pray after Jan. 1, 1863, and so tarrying in prayer on New Year’s Eve became an annual tradition.
—Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024
To avoid suspicion, the young men decided to tarry for a couple of days rather than cross into the neighboring socialist republic right away.
—Longreads, 6 July 2022
Adjective
Often, Petite Sirah produces a wine that is too tarry, too dense, too chewy.
—Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, 1 Sep. 2020
Ingestion of sago palm leaves, seeds or other plant parts causes liver failure, usually signaled by drooling, vomiting, diarrhea or a tarry black stool, depression, appetite loss, abdominal pain, lethargy and jaundice.
—Kim Campbell Thornton, sacbee, 14 Mar. 2018
See All Example Sentences for tarry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarry
Noun
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Georgia will get his first visit, in mid-May, followed by Oregon, Michigan, Utah and BYU in June.—
Grace Raynor,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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But for the wellness-attuned, the following hotels are a step above the rest, especially with their offering of meditative spaces, detox treatments, and in-room amenities that deem a visit to the spa altogether unnecessary.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But Democrats have warned that firing thousands of VA employees will have devastating impacts on the nation's veterans, forcing them to wait longer for medical care, to have disability claims adjudicated and to speak to someone at the Veterans Crisis Line.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2025
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Illinois can’t keep waiting for a cavalry that never comes.—
Kelly McKinney,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, healthcare costs are climbing, inflation lingers above pre-pandemic levels, and despite some dips, over longer periods of time, life expectancy continues to rise.—
Mike Vietri,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Conclave’s journey mirrored the plot of the film: The papal drama lingered quietly in the background as other contenders got tarred by one scandal or another, then came on late by winning at BAFTA and SAG.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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One thing about Zendaya: sis gon’ stay booked and busy.—
Marc Griffin,
VIBE.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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This surge indicates that many seniors are choosing to remain in or re-enter the workforce, driven by financial needs, a desire to stay active, or the pursuit of new professional challenges.—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The palate is viscous slightly beyond its proof, and those dark fruits carry over well, rich in fig, plum pudding, and mulberry; t’s like a vanilla tart topped with fresh berries underneath a sugary glaze.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
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Researchers thought massive ice sheets, unlike noisy, cracking glaciers, flow silently, like viscous fluids.—
ByPaul Voosen,
science.org,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Hence, the debate over the realistic timeline for quantum computing’s practical adoption remains active.—
Dr. Ekta Dang,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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Just Ice Tea bottle while the price of a 16-ounce Tropicana orange juice with 220 calories (44 grams of sugar) would remain unchanged.—
Seth Goldman,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This uncertainty can slow hiring, delay capital spending and force businesses to look for alternatives—whether that means shifting supply chains out of China or investing in automation rather than workers.—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Trump had delayed the tariffs once before to allow more time for talks.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Date of inspection: Jan. 9 Examples of violations: Spoiled, gelatinous buttermilk dated from October in the cooler; raw food thawing on prep table; spider seen descending from ceiling. See the full inspection report.—
Todd A. Price,
The Tennessean,
16 Feb. 2024
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From ancient times until today, aloes have been extolled for their therapeutic value, especially as the gelatinous substance that fills their leaves is used in treating burns and other skin conditions, but it may also be eaten raw or mixed into smoothies.—
Joshua Siskin,
Orange County Register,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tarry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarry. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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