slough 1 of 3

variants also slew or slue
Definition of sloughnext
as in marsh
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water the land for miles around the lake is strewn with ponds, sloughs, and mudflats

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slough

2 of 3

verb (1)

slough

3 of 3

verb (2)

variants also sluff
as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside the snake is sloughing its old skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Some common synonyms of slough are cast, discard, junk, scrap, and shed. 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 is it sensible to use cast instead of slough?

The words cast and slough can be used in similar contexts, but cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

When might discard be a better fit than slough?

The meanings of discard and slough largely overlap; however, 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 slough?

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 slough
Noun
In the past few years, the four boys had indeed accumulated a slew of misdemeanor summons for a range of petty offenses—some dating back to October 1981, and others recorded as recently as November 1984. Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026 The neighborhood Lusail and its slew of international culinary names, including Rainer Becker’s Zuma, Monte Carlo’s Beef Bar, Madrid’s Tate,l and Mykonos beach club Nammos are right on your doorstep on the neighborhood’s Maha Island. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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 The blemish-busting active helps slough away the dead skin cells that contribute to clogged pores, while hydrating glycerin prevents your skin from feeling tight and dehydrated post-cleanse. Emily Orofino, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slough
Noun
  • Wetlands in the area are also home to Everglades snail kites, which hunt for apple snails in freshwater marshes, and other rare species that once inhabited vast wet prairies drained for highways and neighborhoods.
    Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
  • But most tule marshes in California are now lost to development.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • As part of a biosphere reserve, the river wetlands offer super birdwatching, while Rancho Mil Ecotourism Ranch offers full hookup RV camping and guest cottages.
    Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The Okavango Delta is one of those places, an enigmatic wetland that disappears into the Kalahari Desert and is home to the world’s largest remaining elephant population — a wilderness beyond comparison.
    Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • There must be someone in that backbiting swamp that is Hollywood who isn’t a Brooks fan, but such a person is not to be found here.
    Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The crab-eating frog (Fejervarya cancrivora) lives in mangroves, coastal swamps and estuaries across Southeast Asia.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Slough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slough. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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