slough
6 synonyms for slough, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The old skin shed by a snake, or dead tissue that separates from a wound.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The old skin shed by a snake, or dead tissue that separates from a wound.
“We found a snake's slough in the garden shed.”
How to use slough
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
slough off
slough of despond
Etymology
From Middle English "slogh," related to Germanic words for a sheath or shed skin.
Full origin of slough →Frequently asked questions
What does “slough” mean?
The word “slough” means the old skin shed by a snake, or dead tissue that separates from a wound. In plain terms, shed skin/dead tissue, the act of shedding something old, or a swampy patch of land.
How do you pronounce “slough”?
“Slough” is pronounced sluhf (/slʌf/ in IPA).
How do you use “slough” in a sentence?
Here is “slough” used in a sentence: “We found a snake's slough in the garden shed.”
What part of speech is “slough”?
Depending on how it is used, “slough” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “slough” come from?
The word “slough” comes from Middle English. From Middle English "slogh," related to Germanic words for a sheath or shed skin.
How many meanings does “slough” have?
“Slough” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the old skin shed by a snake, or dead tissue that separates from a wound.
