molt
verb (used without object)
(of birds, insects, reptiles, etc.) to cast or shed the feathers, skin, or the like, that will be replaced by a new growth.
molted
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past participleof molt.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof molt.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
moltverb (used without object)(of birds, insects, reptiles, etc.) to cast or shed the feathers, skin, or the like, that will be replaced by a new growth.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pinky’s fame grew even as the bird bent, molted and faded with each turn of the calendar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
“The lobster has molted into its final form,” Steinberger wrote in a blog post about the name change—a nod at his platform’s lobster-centric branding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
The only drawback is that smoked shrimp can be harder to peel — particularly thinner-shelled shrimp that have recently molted.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2023
Dr. de Boer knew that adding molted insect skins to soil enriched its existing bacteria, promoting plant growth.
From New York Times ● Mar. 2, 2022
The storm left the sky thin and dappled gray, like a molted snakeskin.
From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko
