as in shedding
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside
a crab molts its shell as it grows larger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 molting
Here, Jaffe softens the borders between his dual interests in electronic music and jazz, crafting compositions that are constantly molting and emerging anew.
—
Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2025
Extreme drought is causing breeding grounds, molting spots and migration stopover sites to vanish.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2025
Extreme drought is causing breeding grounds, molting spots and migration stopover sites to vanish.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for molting
Verb
-
After months of beautiful, thick tresses thanks to those pregnancy hormones, shedding and changes in hair texture are inevitable as our estrogen levels drop and our body deals with the grueling fourth trimester.—
Claire West,
Parents,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The piano tuner had sent a basket of mums, which were losing petals, shedding everywhere.—
Allegra Goodman,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Taste, Convenience, and Cost Differences Taste and ease of peeling are where the sweeter Sumo Citrus stands out.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
11 Feb. 2026
-
On Monday, the reception rotunda reopened to the public for the first time since — showing off a restoration of every inch of the space, from the gold and green marble floors long hidden by a sad green carpet to the frescoes on the dome, whose peeling paint has been patched up.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Molting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/molting. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
