slough 1 of 3

noun

ˈslü How to pronounce slough (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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slough

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily the unpleasant task of sloughing through the muck to retrieve the ball

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slough

3 of 3

verb (2)

ˈsləf How to pronounce slough (audio)
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
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 Germany has accused Russia of being responsible for the drone attack targeting Leipzig airport last month, and announced a slew of new measures against Moscow. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
If left untreated, the affected tissue surrounding the bite dies and sloughs off the body, leaving behind an ulcer. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for slough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slough
  1. marsh
  2. shuffle
  3. shed
  4. wetland
  5. stumble
  6. swamp
  7. stomp
  8. barge
Noun
  • Water levels across sawgrass marshes dropped below normal and, in some places, below ground.
    — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Editor’s pick More picks A rare bird draws flocks of Southern California birders to this Irvine marsh to get a glimpse.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of marsh
Verb
  • For nearly a year and a half, he was shuffled around detention centers in Texas, Arizona, Louisiana and Florida, until arriving in the Alexandria International Airport in mid-August.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Yankees continued to shuffle their bullpen on Monday, claiming John Schreiber.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • Farlow also warned that a Samoyed will shed their double coat twice a year, meaning Farlow hopes Swift and Kelce’s vacuums are as strong as hers.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The greatest driver to never win a championship couldn’t shed his old moniker.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of shed
Noun
  • Don’t miss the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens, with its network of scenic trails through more than 100 acres of forests and wetlands.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Floating islands exist all over the world in wetlands, where shards of shore often break off into the water.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of wetland
Verb
  • Most critics of judicial supremacy stumble over the fact that a strong Court sometimes benefits their side.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Analysis from Zeki Data shows that where OpenAI and Anthropic are making gains in the AI talent market, Google DeepMind (and to some extent Meta) are stumbling.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumble
Noun
  • Spending more time crafting weak-salsa anti-Latino jokes than improving the lives of Latinos — that’s the racist swamp the president and his team happily fester in.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • They can also be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, scrub brush, swamps and deserts.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of swamp
Verb
  • Joined by his crew, Shakur stomps him out before the stunned gamblers and boxing fans.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The need for data Inside the headquarters of UBTech Robotics, one of China’s biggest humanoid robot firms, a silver-and-black mannequin picks up a box, stomps across the floor, and mechanically places the box on a shelf.
    — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of stomp
Verb
  • There were rocky caves along the steep walls of the nullah, and thickets that even a buffalo would have trouble barging through.
    — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • As enemies barge into an upper floor of a building, Duval, who is a security detail for the mission, takes them on by hiding behind cover and shooting at them.
    — Jay Peters, The Verge, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of barge

Phrases Containing slough

Browse Nearby Words

slouching
slough
sloughed
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Cite this Entry

“Slough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slough. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slough

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slough

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