shed 1 of 2

verb

ˈshed How to pronounce shed (audio)
Definition of shednext
1
as in to peel
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside a snake's skin doesn't grow as the snake does, so every so often the snake will shed its old skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to unload
to get rid of as useless or unwanted you need to shed your old notions of propriety and have some fun for a change

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shed

2 of 2

noun

as in hut

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of shed are cast, discard, junk, scrap, and slough. 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 would cast be a good substitute for shed?

Although the words cast and shed have much in common, cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

When is it sensible to use discard instead of shed?

While the synonyms discard and shed are close in meaning, 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 shed?

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 shed
Verb
The at-will flexibility that can make an American worker feel disposable also lets firms shed labor quickly and move people toward more productive uses. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Photonic technology stocks Lumentum and Coherent both shed about 9%. — Davis Giangiulio,darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Noun
The Polar Aurora outdoor shed is 12 feet long and 10 feet wide with double doors on the long side, plus a window to let light in. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026 Animal welfare officers found 19 dogs, including 17 puppies and two adult dogs, inside mobile trailers and a shed. — Marcella Baietto, CBS News, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shed
  1. ditch
  2. unload
  3. hut
  4. discard
  5. dump
  6. shack
  7. slough
  8. lose
Verb
  • That meant ditching some of the traditional tools used in vehicle design, like the clay models used by car designers since the 1930s.
    — Andrew Staples, Fortune, 3 July 2026
  • Why singles are ditching dating apps Dating app fatigue is measurable.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of ditch
Verb
  • Crews have been seen unloading equipment from trucks this week — much of it covered or obscured — and barricades have been placed near the perimeter of the arena.
    — Meriam Bouarrouj, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • The streets have been shut down around the venue, with trucks unloading equipment for the most anticipated wedding in recent memory.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 3 July 2026
Definition of unload
Noun
  • In the summer, the huts are staffed and the meals are famously hearty.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • Nearby hamlets like Findeln and Zmutt are perfect for a rustic lunch in a traditional mountain hut, while the charming town of Brig, just down the valley, makes an easy day trip by train.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026
Definition of hut
Verb
  • That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 2 July 2026
  • One of the most direct things people can do is avoid flushing or discarding unused medications down the sink or toilet!
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of discard
Verb
  • The Category 4 storm brought 140 mph winds and a 15-foot storm surge to parts of the Gulf Coast before combining with a separate system, dumping over 30 inches of rain in parts of North Carolina over the span of a few days.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Add three-quarters of the celery mixture to the potatoes and marinating liquid, dump in the mayo dressing, and gently stir to combine.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
Definition of dump
Noun
  • Also south of downtown, but closer to the Mississippi, Minnehaha Regional Park offers a shady respite anchored by its namesake 53-foot waterfall (and on-site seasonal seafood shack, Sea Salt).
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 30 June 2026
  • Police said two Mozambican men were killed during violence in late May in Mossel Bay, a coastal town in the Western Cape, where more than 50 shacks in an informal settlement were burned.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of shack
Verb
  • Compared with synthetic fibers, which slough off microplastics that pollute waterways, land and air, natural fibers can be grown or raised in ways that sequester carbon, improve soil health and reduce inputs like pesticides, resulting in a lower environmental footprint, Pingree said.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 22 June 2026
  • Primarily, there are beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) courtesy of lipo hydroxy acid (LHA), a deep-penetrating chemical exfoliant that gently sloughs off old, dead cells to reveal brighter, fresher skin.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 11 June 2026
Definition of slough
Verb
  • The Padres, meanwhile, have lost six straight and given up 66 runs over the last six days, the most in such a span in franchise history.
    — Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • But water also carries the potential for danger, and parents who have lost a child to drowning are begging families to use caution.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of lose

Browse Nearby Words

sheaves
shed
shedding
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shed

Nglish: Translation of shed for Spanish Speakers

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