slough 1 of 3

variants also slew or slue
as in marsh
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water the land for miles around the lake is strewn with ponds, sloughs, and mudflats

Synonyms & Similar Words

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slough

2 of 3

verb (1)

slough

3 of 3

verb (2)

variants also sluff
as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside the snake is sloughing its old skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word slough different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of slough are cast, discard, junk, scrap, and shed. While all these words mean "to get rid of," shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit
finally sloughed off the depression

When is it sensible to use cast instead of slough?

The words cast and slough can be used in similar contexts, but cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

When might discard be a better fit than slough?

The meanings of discard and slough largely overlap; however, discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

How do scrap and junk relate to one another, in the sense of slough?

Both scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways
would junk our educational system

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slough
Noun
First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub sloughs away roughness and dead skin buildup caused by KP, and smells like strawberries. Annie Blackman, Allure, 17 May 2025 But millions of others wade deep into pristine sloughs and isolated cypress stands and come face-to-face with all sorts of amazing wildlife, maybe picking up cottonmouths or even swimming with alligators. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
Pure sugar crystals and AHAs sourced from plants work to slough off skin, while natural botanical oils soothe and hydrate. Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 This clarifying shampoo scrub combines tea tree oil, BHAs, and physical microcrystalline cellulose to gently slough away flakes and dead skin. Kristine Thomason, Glamour, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for slough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slough
Noun
  • There are also a ton of coastal marshes and estuaries that draw black ducks and mallards.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2025
  • After a deep dive on the biodiversity of the refuge, nearby Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve is a top spot for scoping out wood ducks and American woodcocks thanks to its verdant marshes, but for a truly unique perspective on the Outer Banks, don’t miss out on Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
    Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Noun
  • Check out 10 miles of wooded trails through wetlands and varying types of terrain that will appeal to beginner and novice hikers alike.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Developers must assess the nearby population and infrastructure, search for endangered species, and assess wetlands.
    Daniel Stout, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slough. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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