as in shedding
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside
a crab molts its shell as it grows larger
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of molting
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
Chicks that haven't grown in their waterproof feathers are the main victims of the drownings, but the lack of sea ice also affects molting adults, who need ice as a safe place to regrow their swimming feathers, per The Guardian.
—Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Here, Jaffe softens the borders between his dual interests in electronic music and jazz, crafting compositions that are constantly molting and emerging anew.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2025
Extreme drought is causing breeding grounds, molting spots and migration stopover sites to vanish.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
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
Chicks that haven't grown in their waterproof feathers are the main victims of the drownings, but the lack of sea ice also affects molting adults, who need ice as a safe place to regrow their swimming feathers, per The Guardian.
—Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Here, Jaffe softens the borders between his dual interests in electronic music and jazz, crafting compositions that are constantly molting and emerging anew.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2025
Extreme drought is causing breeding grounds, molting spots and migration stopover sites to vanish.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for molting
Verb
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Tax cuts are providing a tailwind for consumer spending and business investment, but a pullback in household demand or sustained rise in input costs may prompt companies to recalibrate by shedding hours or positions.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
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Vacuum lightly at least once a week using only low suction and no beater brush, more frequent vacuuming will help prevent shedding.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Dark, dim, and a little grungy, with its scuffed checkerboard floors, worn old couches, peeling walls, and chalkboard menus, La Factoria feels like a clandestine underground speakeasy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
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Sick of peeling that pesky tag off of your license plate every year?—
Hali Smith
May 4,
Idaho Statesman,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Molting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/molting. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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