as in concave
curved inward
there's a noticeably hollow spot in the mattress where he has been sleeping
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hole
a sunken area forming a separate space
made a little hollow in her mound of mashed potatoes and filled it with gravy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in valley
an area of lowland between hills or mountains
a quaint village nestled in a hollow among green hills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hollow
Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
That is different from the rule-book strike zone of a cube whose top is the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants and whose bottom is at the hollow beneath the kneecap.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The intricate formations are part of a boxwork region — networks of low ridges roughly 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) tall with sandy hollows between them — that Curiosity has been exploring for months on the slopes of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2026
This pivot could revitalize urban retail districts but leave regional malls — home to many Saks outposts — further hollowed.
—Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hollow
Adjective
With a hollow interior trunk, Stumpy was among 158 trees felled in 2024 as part of a project aimed at shoring up a sea wall near the National Mall.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
That is different from the rule-book strike zone of a cube whose top is the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants and whose bottom is at the hollow beneath the kneecap.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
But at the fringe of the hollow, there was no room for hypotheticals.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The intricate formations are part of a boxwork region — networks of low ridges roughly 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) tall with sandy hollows between them — that Curiosity has been exploring for months on the slopes of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Near the pool, shallow stone hollows mark where Zibibbo grapes were once laid out to dry for Passito di Pantelleria, the island’s renowned sweet wine.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2026
This pivot could revitalize urban retail districts but leave regional malls — home to many Saks outposts — further hollowed.
—Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hollow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hollow
Adjective
-
Lightly wet just the concave side of the board and place it on a damp kitchen towel on your countertop.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The cello’s top and back are made from flat, concave carbon-fiber panels.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Just two weeks ago, Gary Woodland decided ot shared his struggles with post traumatic stress disorder, brought on after a September 2023 surgery, which involved a baseball-sized hole cut from the side of his head, to remove a brain lesion.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Canales admits the loss of Robinson leaves a hole in the defensive line rotation.—
Mike Kaye
March 30,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Camouflaged in a valley speckled with just a handful of villas and farmsteads, the 16 stone houses overlook the naked dunes and sensational sunsets of Livadia Bay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Great Rift Valley is an epic series of valleys and mountains carving its way 3,000 miles through East Africa and beyond.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Loose wet slides, which can start small, have the potential to gouge all the way to the ground and even trigger more dangerous wet slab avalanches.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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In a development as predictable as the Yankees overpaying for talent, viewers grew increasingly weary of getting gouged like that and responded with a wave of cord-cutting that has now ensured that OPM is no longer a viable option for RSNs.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When asked whether sunken munitions are a growing problem, Diggs was crystal clear about the potential risk in the future.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Oversize windows throughout the two-bedroom have water views, and the primary bath has a sunken tub and sauna.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Eating just beans, according to Tarugu, is also sure to put a dent in your mood.—
Ayana Underwood,
Outside,
27 Mar. 2026
-
This apparent recloning limit could put a dent in a number of sci-fi sounding but already burgeoning ambitions.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Foxtails are considered dangerous to pets because they are barbed and can penetrate a dog’s skin, ears, nose, eyes and paws and do not fall out on their own.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Pritzker said the speed with which AI is penetrating all forms of life is concerning.—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The researchers used a 5 × 5 array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, or VCSELs, each capable of sending its own signal.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Typically cavities are found in mature trees, so having a dead tree or small pile of dead branches will actually increase your chances of Eastern bluebirds visiting your garden.—
Abby Fribush,
Southern Living,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hollow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hollow. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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