SHED Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'shed' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of shed are cast , discard , junk , scrap , and slough . 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 would 'cast' be a good substitute for 'shed'?

Although the words cast and shed have much in common, cast , especially when used with off, away , or out , implies a forceful rejection or repudiation. // cast off her friends

Q: When is it sensible to use 'discard' instead of 'shed'?

While the synonyms discard and shed are close in meaning, 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 'shed'?

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

shed 1 of 2

verb

ˈshed

Definition of shed next

as in to peel

to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside a snake's skin doesn't grow as the snake does, so every so often the snake will shed its old skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to unload

to get rid of as useless or unwanted you need to shed your old notions of propriety and have some fun for a change

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shed

2 of 2

noun

as in hut

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word shed different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of shed are cast, discard, junk, scrap, and slough. 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 would cast be a good substitute for shed?

Although the words cast and shed have much in common, cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

When is it sensible to use discard instead of shed?

While the synonyms discard and shed are close in meaning, 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 shed?

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

Examples 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 shed

Verb

During a recent appearance on media personality and radio legend Big Boy’s digital platform, 50 shed light on his history with Diddy and JAY-Z, which dates as far back as the late ’90s. —

Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 Dec. 2024 Radical self-authenticity means shedding the mask of perfection and allowing your true self to be seen, imperfections and all. —

Dax Grant, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Noun

Most Popular Lizzo shows off dramatic weight loss in new photos Lizzo shows off dramatic weight loss in new photos Man fatally shot in head, woman wounded in upper Manhattan NYC’s outdoor dining sheds are about to disappear. —

New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Nov. 2024 The frame, one-story, former base headquarters building was their five-bedroom home for more than 10 years, and an adjacent Quonset building, formerly used for briefing flight crews, served as a giant storage shed. —

Si Liberman, Hartford Courant, 11 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shed

Verb

Once the spiced syrup has been off heat for about five to 10 minutes, peel six lemons and add the peels to spiced syrup, then stir briefly.

Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2024
Just peel and cube them, put them in your slow cooker along with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and other ingredients.

Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024