Slough — Meaning, Definition, & Examples for the SAT
Slough means to shed or cast off something unwanted—literally (e.g., a snake’s skin) or figuratively (e.g., bad habits). Below: quick definition, pronunciation, examples, collocations, mnemonic.
✅ Quick Definition
Slough (verb): to shed or discard, especially something old, dead, or undesirable. Example: to slough off dead skin.
Note: A less common meaning and pronunciation of slough (in the US) is /slu/ or ‘slew’, meaning swamp. But the most common usage is basically in the sense of shedding, like a snake sheds its skin.
🗣️ Pronunciation
IPA:
/slʌf/ (See IPA key)Respelling: sluff
🔁 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: shed, cast off, discard, jettison, peel away, shrug off (figurative)
Antonyms: keep, retain, adopt, embrace
🧩 Common Collocations
slough off dead skin / a layer
slough off responsibility / complacency / old habits
slough away (less common): “winter grime sloughed away”
🧠 Memory Trick (Mnemonic)
SLOUGH → “SLUfF”: You sluff off the tough stuff you don’t need.
✍️ Examples in Context
The snake will slough its skin as it grows.
During recovery, the wound slowly sloughed off necrotic tissue.
In its turnaround plan, the company aims to slough off unprofitable divisions.
🔎 Usage Notes
Register: neutral to formal; common in science/medicine (dermatology, wound care) and figurative writing.