as in shedding
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside
a crab molts its shell as it grows larger
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of molting
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
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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Since stress can trigger acne flare-ups and hair shedding, supporting the body’s stress balance may help minimize these effects.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
7 Mar. 2026
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One recent study review noted that excess hair shedding is a problem a number of GLP-1 patients face, but further study is needed to understand why.—
Julia Sullivan,
Allure,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After peeling, they can be eaten raw, stir-fried, or lightly sautéed.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
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In addition to damage that can occur from gel and acrylic nails, brittleness, thinning, peeling and splitting can also be caused by biting, picking, and harsh chemicals.—
Dominic Cadogan,
Glamour,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Molting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/molting. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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