SLOUGHING Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

sloughing 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of slough

as in shuffling

to move heavily or clumsily the unpleasant task of sloughing through the muck to retrieve the ball

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sloughing

2 of 2

verb (2)

variants also sluffing

present participle of slough

as in shedding

to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside the snake is sloughing its old skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sloughing

Verb

Digging around Amazon led me to a skin-sloughing solution. — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 22 May 2026 After sloughing off his final semester the first time around at USC, Lee needed at least three B’s and two A’s. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026 The bright wallpaper that Nataliia and Valerii had hung was sloughing off in layers, green giving way to roses. — Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026 With the same concept as an exfoliating serum for your face—tackling hyperpigmentation, sloughing off patchy texture, controlling acne, and improving overall skin tone—exfoliation has gone full body with everything from sprays to buffing bars and serums. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026 So, on Thursday night’s show Kimmel doubled-down once again, sloughing off the latest attack from the leader of the free world on his late night comedy show. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloughing

Verb

Burke piles fascinating shuffling sounds on top, invoking a quiet scuffle, maybe some cardboard boxes being knocked over in a storage space.

— Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
The Chicago Cubs have been shuffling the lower levels of their organization ahead of the trade deadline, looking to recapture some strong momentum from the beginning of the season to help drive a playoff push in the second half.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of shuffling

Verb

Now, The Real Wolf of Wall Street is shedding new light on Belfort’s company.

— Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Meanwhile, the connection between hair shedding and ferritin is well documented, with studies associating low ferritin levels with telogen effluvium, a form of temporary hair loss.

— Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 15 July 2026

Definition of shedding

Verb

The huge animals knocked bodies to the cobblestones, and stumbling runners caused several pileups during the two-and-a-half-minute run from the pen to the bull ring where bullfighters will kill the bulls later in the day.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
The huge animals knocked down bodies to the cobblestones, and stumbling runners caused several pileups during the 2½-minute run from the pen to the bullring where bullfighters would kill the bulls later in the day.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of stumbling

Verb

In addition to the peeling paint, the pool experienced one of the biggest recorded algae blooms in years just days after its reopening.

— Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
The duo started their show five years ago, with the goal of peeling back the curtain on their daily lives, from their jobs covering the NFL to relationship advice to health and beauty tips.

— Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of peeling

Verb

There was so much color, all these beautiful headdresses, and the male dancers were stomping their legs to mimic the drums.

— Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
The name Chelydra serpentina evokes colossal reptiles stomping through ancient forests.

— Hannah Smith July 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026

Definition of stomping

Cite this Entry

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“Sloughing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloughing. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sloughing

verb (1)

verb (2)

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