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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Recent Examples of molting
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
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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Looking toward the horizon, the American backyard is undergoing a radical transformation, shedding the high-maintenance, rigid aesthetics of the past in favor of something far more soulful and secluded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
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Natasha Lyonne is shedding light on the circumstances that led to her being escorted off a recent flight to NYC and what happened after.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The governor’s call to enhance education grants comes one month after Democratic legislative leaders suggested peeling $150 million away from his rebate program to counter funding crisis in local schools.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
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The ceiling of the awning, once white, is now charred and peeling.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Molting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/molting. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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