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
Motherhood has made Slate gentler on herself, sloughing off feelings of foolishness, self-criticism and self-doubt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2024
He had a sour, thin-lipped look even in sleep, and another resembled a reptile in molt, the skin of his face sloughing away in curls of dead skin.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
