Thesaurus results for MOLTING

molting

verb

present participle of molt

as in shedding

to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside a crab molts its shell as it grows larger

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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 molting Now, in his fourth week checking the hawk’s nest on OC Parks’ land managed by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Gough noticed the color change, indicating the chicks are molting their feathers, doing well, and growing. — Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 May 2026 On the Sonora stage Sunday, the 22-year-old Newark rapper-producer who arrived at the current screaming catharsis via a circuit of molting SoundCloud-era microgenres was at once dangerously commanding and euphoric while tearing through highlights from last year’s Revengeseekerz. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026 Why Emperor Penguins Are Declining Emperor penguins depend on stable Antarctic sea ice for breeding, raising chicks and molting for at least nine months of the year. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026 Chicks that haven't grown in their waterproof feathers are the main victims of the drownings, but the lack of sea ice also affects molting adults, who need ice as a safe place to regrow their swimming feathers, per The Guardian. — Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026 Here, Jaffe softens the borders between his dual interests in electronic music and jazz, crafting compositions that are constantly molting and emerging anew. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2025 Extreme drought is causing breeding grounds, molting spots and migration stopover sites to vanish. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for molting

Verb

Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and brand president of the Philip Kingsley Clinics and product ranges, has clients who stay awake long into the night, comparing photos before and after shedding events.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026
By shedding light on these dark corners, the observatory's mission, NASA said, will then reveal not just how the universe developed over time, but where it's headed.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of shedding

Verb

According to Chicago Public Schools, reports of peeling paint and possible mold in limited areas of the building were flagged earlier this month.

— Chris Tye, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
The liner immediately started peeling, and algae formed at the top of the pool, with pieces of lining floating on top.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of peeling

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molten

molting

molts

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“Molting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/molting. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of molting

verb

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