Synonyms of molt

molt

verb

ˈmōlt 

as in to shed

to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside

a crab molts its shell as it grows larger

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shed
• peel
• discard
• slough
• ditch
• exfoliate
• slip
• flake
• scale
• unload
• scrap
• throw away
• fling (off or away)
• jettison
• chuck
• throw out
• shuck (off)
• junk

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of molt

Look for red or rust-colored stains or exoskeletons left behind after molting, and be on the lookout for sweet, musty odors on or around beds. — Dan Simms, USA Today, 19 May 2026

Now, in his fourth week checking the hawk’s nest on OC Parks’ land managed by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Gough noticed the color change, indicating the chicks are molting their feathers, doing well, and growing. — Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

On the Sonora stage Sunday, the 22-year-old Newark rapper-producer who arrived at the current screaming catharsis via a circuit of molting SoundCloud-era microgenres was at once dangerously commanding and euphoric while tearing through highlights from last year’s Revengeseekerz. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026

Why Emperor Penguins Are Declining Emperor penguins depend on stable Antarctic sea ice for breeding, raising chicks and molting for at least nine months of the year. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026