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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Out toward the edge, the star would boil unstably, sloughing off outer layers and explosively ejecting mass. — Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026 It’s also packed with a slew of cleansing agents that are known for effectively sloughing away gunk while being gentle enough not to damage the skin barrier. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026 The leader of his country’s Socialist Party, Rama came to power in 2013, as Albania was still sloughing off its insular identity. — Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 23 July 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

The filmmaker has likened his perspective in this project to that of Dorothy’s dog Toto in The Wizard of Oz, alert to the shuffling feet beneath the curtain rather than being bamboozled by the shyster title character’s techno showmanship.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Not much else changed in Class 5A, besides Azle and Arlington Seguin shuffling down two spots with Week 2 losses.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of shuffling

Verb

The technology does not prevent textiles from shedding microfibers.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
This halts the nuclear fusion process — which involves converting that hydrogen to helium — leading to the stars collapsing and shedding their outer layers to become a white dwarf with around the mass of the sun crammed into the width of Earth.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of shedding

Verb

Ian informs the sisters that Kylie isn’t merely stumbling into arcane rituals; someone is drawing her to the dark side.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
Unlike other festivals, where audiences can be more forgiving, stumbling out of the gate at Venice can prove impossible for a contender to recover from.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of stumbling

Verb

On the walls, the paint is peeling and the floor, unswept in days, leaves little pieces of dirt stuck to our feet.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
On Tuesday, a silver cross on a long chain hung from the pine tree’s bark, which was peeling and blackened from the blaze.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of peeling

Verb

The clip then pans to a warm fire, and someone, presumably Meghan, stomping in rain boots in the mud.

— Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 13 Sep. 2026
Andersen in particular has struggled with such an aggressive role, where recovery pace and stomping channel defending are required to keep the shape.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026