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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of molt Some scientists think that whales might also migrate to molt their skin in those same warm, shallow waters. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Mar. 2025 Which pollutants stick, and which ones molt away? Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025 Certain ideas — a sweater made of flyaway feathers, a gradient that molted into florals around the collar and dresses with untamed bows — hinted at a greater whimsy lying somewhere below the surface. Jacob Gallagher, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 Harbor seal mothers prefer to rest on slower icebergs after giving birth and on faster ones during molting season. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for molt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for molt
shed
Verb
  • The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which had turned positive in the late morning, shed 191 points, or 1%, to touch 18,952.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Bush Hager also shed light on what her mother, Laura Bush, is like with her dad.
    Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 22 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Molt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/molt. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on molt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!