slough
noun
the outer layer of the skin of a snake, which is cast off periodically.
sloughing
-
present participleof slough.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
However, some men have ended up in A&E with a penis turning black and skin "sloughing off" after a botched procedure.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
At best, the idea relates to some kind of individual flourishing, the opposite of corporate serfdom, a sloughing off of organizational chains leading to an explosion of creativity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026
And yet here he is, sloughing off yet another weekend for the cause—ignoring all evidence to the contrary that a better world is possible.
From Slate ● Apr. 9, 2025
But consider adding on a scrub and sloughing off a layer or two of skin — it’s my favorite way to enter the new year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2025
It wasn’t as deliberate as deciding, at age six, to become an atheist, but more like an imperceptible sloughing of layers.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
