Synonyms of skin

skin 1 of 2

noun

ˈskin 

1

as in exterior

an outer part or layer

space-age materials used on the skin of the aircraft

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exterior
• surface
• front
• face
• shell
• outside
• top
• facade
• veneer
• facing
• appearance
• mask
• cover
• covering
• show
• disguise
• semblance
• guise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interior
• inside

2

as in pelt

the outer covering of an animal removed for its commercial value

hats made from beaver skins were once fashionable

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pelt
• leather
• fur
• seal
• hide
• beaver
• sheep
• rabbit
• raccoon
• otter
• badger
• mink
• marten
• muskrat
• chamois
• chinchilla
• deerskin
• sable
• pigskin
• alligator
• fox
• sealskin
• sheepskin
• goatskin
• fleece
• snakeskin
• ermine
• rawhide
• fisher
• sharkskin
• crocodile
• calfskin
• kidskin
• buckskin
• lambskin
• Persian lamb
• doeskin
• karakul
• bearskin
• horsehide
• cowhide
• coonskin
• suede
• patent leather
• morocco
• kolinsky
• mouton
• cordovan

3

as in leather

the hairless natural covering of an animal prepared for use

calfskin gloves

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leather
• coat
• hide
• pelt
• seal
• fleece
• crocodile
• fur
• alligator
• antelope
• kid
• deerskin
• chamois
• pigskin
• sheepskin
• goatskin
• snakeskin
• sharkskin
• kidskin
• calfskin
• lambskin
• buckskin
• doeskin
• morocco
• suede
• horsehide
• patent leather
• cowhide
• ostrich
• cabretta
• cordovan
• capeskin
• nubuck

skin

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to peel

to remove the natural covering of

I prefer not to skin potatoes before mashing them

Synonyms & Similar Words

• peel
• bark
• hull
• husk
• shell
• bare
• scale
• strip
• expose
• flay
• shuck
• pare
• denude

2

as in to sting

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

got his revenge on the dirty swindler who had skinned him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sting
• pluck
• cheat
• squeeze
• stick
• hustle
• bleed
• beat
• screw
• fleece
• stiff
• shake down
• deceive
• chisel
• do
• rip off
• swindle
• sucker
• hose
• victimize
• con
• skunk
• short
• fiddle
• ream
• defraud
• rook
• trick
• gaff
• chouse
• exploit
• mulct
• thimblerig
• bilk
• flimflam
• nobble
• shortchange
• take for a ride
• betray
• diddle
• take to the cleaners
• cozen
• milk
• euchre
• clip
• fool
• wrench
• soak
• nick
• sell a bill of goods to
• gouge
• do in
• rope (in)
• gull
• overcharge
• wring
• extort
• dupe
• bitch
• wrest
• double-cross
• bamboozle
• fast-talk

3

as in to cream

to defeat by a large margin

we simply got skinned in the interoffice softball tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cream
• whip
• overcome
• bomb
• paste
• bury
• trim
• dust
• wax
• blow away
• smoke
• upset
• master
• smother
• top
• flatten
• beat
• throw
• annihilate
• rout
• snow under
• thrash
• eat alive
• take
• shellac
• skunk
• overwhelm
• clobber
• beat the pants off
• score
• run circles around
• worst
• wipe the floor with
• lick
• drub
• conquer
• destroy
• best
• cap
• wallop
• sweep
• better
• trounce
• exceed
• succeed
• surpass
• whop
• crush
• slaughter
• whup
• win (against)
• prevail (over)
• dispatch
• whomp
• finish
• subdue
• subjugate
• triumph (over)
• transcend
• overtop
• ace (out)
• eclipse
• tromp
• hurdle
• vanquish
• surmount
• edge (out)
• overpower
• knock over
• flourish
• excel
• overthrow
• outshine
• sink
• overbear
• outdo
• knock off
• nose out
• outstrip
• overmatch
• break
• pip
• outdistance
• outfight
• upend
• do in

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of skin

Noun

Nestle turkey legs into gravy, skin side up, then tuck oranges, garlic, and shallots around, arranging oranges and garlic cut side up. — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Leather is a byproduct of the meat industry, meaning shifts in consumption patterns and alternative proteins could eventually affect the availability of animal skin. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

Verb

If hunting or skinning animals, use gloves, and cook game meat thoroughly before eating. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

If hunting, trapping or skinning animals, use gloves when handling animals and cook game meat thoroughly before eating, according to the CDC. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing skin

• by the skin of one's teeth

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Editor Peter Sokolowski breaks down a number of body parts with metaphorical uses as verbs, from head to toe.

Transcript:

Many parts of the body can be used as verbs in either a physical or a metaphorical sense. You can head a company, but if things go wrong you'll have to shoulder the blame, or face your investors. A good leader backs their employees, but if you don't toe the line you might get skinned. Did you muscle your way into that job? You might eye someone suspiciously, or wait for the police to finger a suspect. But if you need to get out of town, try thumbing a ride. You can ride with me if you can stomach the thought. I don't always sing along to the radio, but you might see me mouthing the words.