as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside
a soap that promises to help me exfoliate all that dry, flaky skin I've apparently been carrying around
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exfoliate
Bath & Body Works: Make your shower even more luxurious with sweet-smelling body washes, buttery lotions, and exfoliating scrubs that cost as little as $2.
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Averi Baudler, People.com, 24 June 2025
Those brands often notably contain anti-aging components or exfoliating chemicals that dermatologists have said can cause considerable damage to young skin.
—Simone Melvin, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
For congested or breakout-prone skin, exfoliating pads are a game-changer.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 19 June 2025
Bevel’s collection of face and beard wash, face gel, and exfoliating pads are all formulated with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin C specifically to care for men’s skin.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exfoliate
Averi Baudler, People.com, 24 June 2025
Those brands often notably contain anti-aging components or exfoliating chemicals that dermatologists have said can cause considerable damage to young skin.
—Simone Melvin, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
For congested or breakout-prone skin, exfoliating pads are a game-changer.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 19 June 2025
Bevel’s collection of face and beard wash, face gel, and exfoliating pads are all formulated with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin C specifically to care for men’s skin.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exfoliate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exfoliate
Verb
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Lawmakers like Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) argue that full transparency is necessary to rebuild public trust and shed light on how prosecutors handled one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in recent memory.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
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Those in Waller and Bowman’s camp fear middling growth will cause the U.S. to flatline, forcing businesses to cut costs, including by shedding employees.—
Paolo Confino,
Fortune,
18 July 2025
Verb
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The second looks to obtain cobalt-rich crusts that have accumulated over millions of years on the tops of seamounts between depths of approximately 3,000 and 8,000 feet, by peeling these crusts off from the bedrock.—
Amber X. Chen,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 July 2025
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In a large bowl, add lemon juice and a couple of peeled and pitted ripe avocados, cut into ½-inch cubes.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exfoliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exfoliate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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