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

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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

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
Mullin sheds light on his immigration views Trump’s immigration agenda and how Mullin intends to implement it are key issues for Democrats. —Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026 During his first offseason as a professional, Harber was intentional about his lifting, speed work, nutrition and sleep, ultimately shedding about 15 pounds. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
Several gardening experts have weighed in on exactly which tools earn their keep and which ones collect dust in the shed. —Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026 Make Use of Shady Corners McMahon utilized a shady part of the yard for a garden shed. —Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shed
  1. unload
  2. hut
  3. ditch
  4. dump
  5. shack
  6. discard
  7. lose
  8. lean-to
Verb
  • Light rain fell as ambulances lined up outside the cemetery and began unloading dozens of plain wooden caskets.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
  • With the bases again loaded, Ole Miss cleanup hitter Tristan Bissetta unloaded on a Higgins pitch and gave Ole Miss the lead with a 464-foot blast to right field.
    — Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of unload
Noun
  • The Whistler Mountain hut serves up the type of cinnamon buns that will power you through a long day of challenging skiing or snowboarding.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
  • On Tuesday, those guides led the group out of the huts with urgency.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of hut
Verb
  • The builder also ditched its original plan to send traffic into a neighboring development and will donate two wells to the neighboring English Hills subdivision, representatives of the builder told the board Monday night.
    — Joe Marusak March 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Elsewhere Renate Reinsve ditched her shoes and walked barefoot through the party, which was carpeted.
    — Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of ditch
Verb
  • Officials have been watching dam levels since a storm last week dumped heavy rain across the state, which led to catastrophic flooding that washed away roads and homes.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • While the Hurricanes have adapted from being a dump-and-chase team to becoming one of the league’s more dangerous on the rush, Staal and Martinook still predominantly relied on using their forechecking to force turnovers and create chances.
    — Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of dump
Noun
  • This was little more than a wooden shack beside a convenience store and a karaoke parlor, all of them run by an enterprising resident who had already buried 200 people in the 12 months since Duterte had taken office, nearly all of them drug suspects.
    — Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The assailants, some armed, also vandalized security cameras and a vacant guard shack and slashed the tires of vehicles in the parking lot, authorities said.
    — Sue Ambrose, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of shack
Verb
  • The first-stage booster that had been tapped during the original attempts was discarded for a new booster.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
  • The foundation owns books donated or discarded by various library branches.
    — Margaret Littman, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of discard
Verb
  • Fine’s husband, Michael, lost an arm after a car crash in 2010, setting off her yearslong work on health care legislation.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
  • This is the mayor’s second attempt at a higher office, after losing a 2018 bid for governor against Pritzker.
    — Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of lose
Noun
  • Before the lean-to was finished, Tom crawled into it and wrapped the deerskin around his feet without taking his boots off.
    — Elwyn "Bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Never has a restaurant’s name been so fitting as The Stand – a literal, wooden lean-to on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, complete with handwritten menu signs and a ceiling made of tarps.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of lean-to

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 21 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of shed for Spanish Speakers

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