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

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
Court filings detail declining applications, enrollment, student withdrawals The court filings shed light on the recent decline in Wisconsin in international students, from undergraduate to doctoral, as well as visiting researchers and professors. — Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2026 The body sheds heat through the skin before and during sleep, and that works best when the surrounding environment is cooler than the body. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
Bulky Storage Pieces A backyard shed may seem like an essential part of outdoor living, but in a compact yard, a traditional four-wall structure can quickly dominate the space. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 15 Aug. 2026 The Center promised to quickly repair the facade and remove the unsightly sidewalk shed that has shrouded the building the last 25 years. — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 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
  • The Buffaloes ditched chasing transfers who were former four- and five-star high school athletes from blue-blood programs who had yet to be consistent contributors at the college level.
    — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Understatement rather than flash, over-the-top ditched in favor of restraint.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of ditch
Verb
  • The new vessel, according to the CSL Group (CSL), the world’s largest owner and operator of self-unloading ships, will greatly boost Adbri’s limestone operations.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Welcomed by Herky the Hornet, the cheer team and the campus community, the students and their families checked in before unloading their belongings and setting up their new rooms.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of unload
Noun
  • Treatment huts are—of course—lovely, and my massage was performed by an incredible therapist who clicked my bones in all the right places and left me feeling light as air.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The best Airbnbs in the Dolomites are similarly varied, from remote huts tucked into wildflower meadows to working farms with their own cheese dairies and centuries-old homes surrounded by vineyards.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hut
Verb
  • Peeling, trimming, and discarding green portions are the most effective measures to ensure a potato is safe to eat.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
  • If that prediction is wrong, the processor discards the work, although traces can remain behind.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of discard
Verb
  • During that interview with Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling, teammates attempted to join the celebration, with Guerrero and Straw attempting to dump water over Lukes as part of the team’s tradition.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • These men never anticipated being dumped in a New Jersey ditch so far from home.
    — Jennifer Janofsky, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of dump
Noun
  • After, she was ostracized by her own community and lived the rest of her life isolated in a shack in the woods.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • One squatter even took up residence in a guard shack at the entrance to the complex.
    — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of shack
Verb
  • The best ones contained physical exfoliants as well as chemical exfoliants (like AHA, BHA, or PHA) to slough away dead skin cells, and also featured nourishing ingredients to keep the skin hydrated (like jojoba oil, squalane, and shea butter).
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 2 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
Definition of slough
Verb
  • The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that over a million children have lost food benefits since July 2025, when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Buffaloes lost seven of their final eight games, including a 53-7 loss to Utah and a 52-17 loss to Arizona.
    — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 3 Sep. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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