as in removing
to rid oneself of (a garment)
peeled off the wet clothes and tossed them over the shower rod
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in exiting
to leave a place often for another
it's rude to peel off like that without thanking your host
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of peeling (off)
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
Nine weeks after wind gusts estimated at 60-80 mph pummeled the Longmont Climbing Collective, peeling off some of its roof panels and damaging others that remained attached, the massive climbing gym will host its second Ice Climbing World Cup this weekend.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
The wallpaper was peeling off the walls, the windows needed to be redone and the siding needed updating.
—Celia Fernandez
tasia Jensen, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026
The innocent girl turned jaded seductress, peeling off her sheer black lingerie to pose for the camera.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
So kids and adults alike can take a quick bathroom break without having to tramp through the interior, getting back to the outdoor activities of the day without peeling off muddy boots or clothes.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Critics note the time and effort needed to remove stubborn labels—after all, few things are more irritating than peeling off a label and being met with sticky residue.
—Caelan McMichael, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025
Their charred bark was peeling off in curls, like terra-cotta tiles.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Bricks look weathered and soot-stained, there’s graffiti on the walls, posters are peeling off them and shadows of moving people are even projected onto the windows of the train in the station.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Each position group or side of the ball took turns peeling off from the crowd for a still shot with the Lombardi Trophy and their closest teammates, with cigars in their mouths, goggles on their heads and smiles on their faces.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
Nine weeks after wind gusts estimated at 60-80 mph pummeled the Longmont Climbing Collective, peeling off some of its roof panels and damaging others that remained attached, the massive climbing gym will host its second Ice Climbing World Cup this weekend.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
The wallpaper was peeling off the walls, the windows needed to be redone and the siding needed updating.
—Celia Fernandez
tasia Jensen, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026
The innocent girl turned jaded seductress, peeling off her sheer black lingerie to pose for the camera.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
So kids and adults alike can take a quick bathroom break without having to tramp through the interior, getting back to the outdoor activities of the day without peeling off muddy boots or clothes.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Critics note the time and effort needed to remove stubborn labels—after all, few things are more irritating than peeling off a label and being met with sticky residue.
—Caelan McMichael, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025
Their charred bark was peeling off in curls, like terra-cotta tiles.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Bricks look weathered and soot-stained, there’s graffiti on the walls, posters are peeling off them and shadows of moving people are even projected onto the windows of the train in the station.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Peeling (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peeling%20%28off%29. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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