1
as in shoal
lacking significant physical depth
the dog quickly dug a shallow hole that was barely deep enough to accommodate his bone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in superficial
having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character
he was a shallow person who rarely cared about anything but his earthly possessions and keeping up appearances
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shallow
Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
There were plenty of shallow areas to play in at the pool, and the staff had pool toys and water guns at the ready.
—Chris Schaklx, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Factors that can contribute to debris flows Brief bursts of heavy rain can trigger debris flows, a type of potentially dangerous shallow landslide.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shallow
Adjective
At least 70 whales have perished since the start of the year in the shallow lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula where the animals gather to calf, nurse and breed.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
There were plenty of shallow areas to play in at the pool, and the staff had pool toys and water guns at the ready.
—Chris Schaklx, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
Less than two hours later, a shark bit two teenagers wading in the shallows of nearby Seacrest Beach.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Factors that can contribute to debris flows Brief bursts of heavy rain can trigger debris flows, a type of potentially dangerous shallow landslide.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shallow
Adjective
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Due to its mild alkaline (acid-reducing) effect and abrasive texture, baking soda can help remove superficial stains and reduce bacteria in the mouth.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Health,
27 Mar. 2025
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Her framework moves beyond superficial advice, addressing the root causes of insecurity while offering practical tools for lasting change.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Overall, there are far more rocks and shoals on the economic horizon than fair seas.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2025
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Shad like to gather in dense shoals in river backwaters, especially areas with warm water outflows from industrial operations, according to the DNR.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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According to someone with direct knowledge, the Heat ideally would like to keep point guard Davion Mitchell, an impending restricted free agent who has thrived in a bench role recently after his February acquisition from Toronto.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2025
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If the Bruins re-sign their restricted free agents and leave their prospects in Providence, that gives them with four slots to fill.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Authorities also found photos of the front and back of Mayer's credit and debit cards, as well as the username and password for a bank account, on Casap's phone.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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If your daydreams about jetting off on a European vacation keep getting thwarted by your budget and bank account, all hope isn’t lost.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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These aren’t just cosmetic—they’re the kinds of behind-the-scenes changes that help make an already stellar game feel even smoother.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Each edge of this triangle-esque tool serves a unique purpose: a smooth, long side for sweeping over wider areas like calves, arms, and thighs; a precision tip for targeted acupressure; and a ridged edge for digging into tense tissue.—
Allure,
Allure,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Storms are the most common cause of lightning, but lightning strikes have been observed in volcanic eruptions, surface nuclear detonations and during heavy snowstorms even.—
Joyce Orlando,
The Tennessean,
2 Aug. 2024
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When values fail to align, problems surface, even in organizations committed to developing leaders through coaching.—
Mitch Mitchell,
Forbes,
9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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He’s been frequently arrested by Iranian authorities, most recently in July 2022 after signing an appeal against police violence and spent several months behind bars.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
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It’s been just over eight months since the Jamaican dancehall legend was freed from captivity after serving 13 years behind bars for a murder conviction that was overturned on appeal in March 2024.—
Rob Kenner,
VIBE.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shallow. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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