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

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

At the end of all that immersiveness, exiting out onto the physical street to join the crowds of shuffling tourists and fend off sullen Elmos makes Times Square feel like the soul of authenticity.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
An offseason filled with roster shuffling continued Tuesday for the Charlotte Hornets, who completed a three-player deal with Atlanta to land another guard with perimeter shooting potential.

— Staff reports, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of shuffling

Verb

There are some great deals on leave-in conditioner and hair masks, too, like this smoothing formula from L’Oréal Paris, plus strand-thickening formulas that can help add density and control shedding in thinning areas.

— Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
What’s happening Oral supplements are increasingly being pitched as a first stop for hair shedding, with brands promising fuller strands in as little as three months.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of shedding

Verb

Unlike every other film genre, the history of horror, at least since the 1950s, is a story of amateurs stumbling in the dark.

— Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Instead of stumbling like the Phillies and Cubs, the Padres surged and took with them the #1 Wild Card spot, earning the right to host this series.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of stumbling

Verb

The State Russian Museum revealed that the museum’s specialists repaired areas of peeling, applying primer and paint across the entire surface of the canvas and completed the restoration with a varnish coating.

— Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Minimize direct exposure while your skin is red, peeling, swollen, crusted, or otherwise healing.

— Malana VanTyler, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026