SLOUGH Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

slough 1 of 3

noun

ˈslü

variants also slew or slue

Definition of slough

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)

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

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

Synonym Chooser

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

The town’s German roots shine in a slew of fall festivals celebrating jazz, BBQ, Oktoberfest, and more. — Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026 The incident was quickly followed by a slew of other companies reporting instances where AI agents behaved in unexpected ways. — Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 25 Aug. 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

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

Since Brian Schottenheimer lasted six years, from 2006 until 2011, the Jets have shuffled through 10 offensive coordinators (including Reich), and none lasted for more than two seasons.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The line shuffles forward quickly, and my heart knots in my chest as Heartfillers are dosed to each person up ahead.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of shuffle

Verb

SentinelOne — The cybersecurity stock shed almost 4% after the company issued a weak outlook for current-quarter and full-year earnings per share.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Getting an up-close look at Ship, the company said, would shed light on how its heat shield held up during the flight — key information that could advance the development of Starship, which is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of shed

Noun

At the southern end of the Everglades, where marshes and coastal wetlands are most starved for freshwater, peat has started to collapse, ripping open the shallow sawgrass marshes to leave behind deeper pits of open water.

— Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
There are also wetlands, woodlands, savannahs, and mountain bush.

— Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 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

Their father, Jamie, always seemed to be around, smiling and shouting and stomping his feet.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Achord bounces on his toes like an impatient little kid watching his guys work, stomps his right foot on the ground and vaults his right arm forward to demonstrate how someone should return a kick.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 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

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slouching

slough

sloughed

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

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Synonyms of slough

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