molt
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.
See Examples For:
And crabs need that deep substrate to safely molt, or they risk being eaten by a hungry tankmate.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2025
However, larger species such as great horned owls tend to molt slower, and can take two or more years to replace all their feathers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2025
Mr. Rave says that after the eggs hatch, many of the mothers go off to molt.
From NewsForKids.net ● May 7, 2024
A few days after they emerge and molt, the males will start buzzing in an effort to find a mate, a slow-building crescendo of noise that in a chorus can be louder than a plane.
From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2024
As the spiders molt and grow, the net is enlarged.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
The final step in the metamorphosis, if all goes well: The case splits open, and the winged creature molts, ready to take its first flight in pursuit of prey, leaving the exuviae behind.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 11, 2022
A few days, a few molts, and a few milkweed leaves later, the caterpillar was about a half-inch long and fattening up, following a timetable nearly as reliable as a Swiss watch.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 20, 2019
Eggs hatch after four days, and the larvae grow over the course of seven to nine molts and five to six weeks, he said.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 2, 2014
Embryonic development is external and proceeds through larval stages separated by molts.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013
As it gets bigger it molts several times, splitting the old skin with its head and wriggling out, revealing stretchy skin underneath.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
Pinky’s fame grew even as the bird bent, molted and faded with each turn of the calendar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
“The lobster has molted into its final form,” Steinberger wrote in a blog post about the name change—a nod at his platform’s lobster-centric branding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
The only drawback is that smoked shrimp can be harder to peel — particularly thinner-shelled shrimp that have recently molted.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2023
Dr. de Boer knew that adding molted insect skins to soil enriched its existing bacteria, promoting plant growth.
From New York Times ● Mar. 2, 2022
It looked like an entire bird had molted all its feathers.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Elephant seals live in open water, but it’s common for them to return to where they were born for molting season, when they shed their topmost layer of skin and fur.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
A detailed analysis revealed that the molting pattern was irregular rather than orderly.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 18, 2026
Filming took place between October and January, to avoid molting season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025
Versatile and resilient, the lobster survives by molting, shedding its skin and growing into a new, bigger shell.
From New York Times ● May 20, 2024
Their bodies were covered in molting feathers, and their wings were tipped with tiny, shriveled hands.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
Vocabulary lists containing molt
"Hitching a Ride"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Red Kayak
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
