shallow

¹shal·low

adj \ˈsha-(ˌ)lō\

Definition of SHALLOW

1

: having little depth <shallow water>

2

: having little extension inward or backward <office buildings have taken the form of shallow slabs — Lewis Mumford>

3

a : penetrating only the easily or quickly perceived <shallow generalizations> b : lacking in depth of knowledge, thought, or feeling <a shallow demagogue>

4

: displacing comparatively little air : weak <shallow breathing>

— shal·low·ly \-lō-lē, -lə-lē\ adverb

— shal·low·ness noun

Examples of SHALLOW

1. The shallow end of the pool is only three feet deep.
2. Her boyfriends were all shallow creeps.
3. She could only take shallow breaths.
4. His breathing became very shallow.

Origin of SHALLOW

Middle English schalowe; probably akin to Old English sceald shallow — more at skeleton

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SHALLOW

Synonyms: depthless, shoal

Antonyms: deep

Related Words: skin-deep, superficial, surface; fathomable, measurable; finite, limited, measured, restricted; even, flat, flush, horizontal, level, plane, smooth; two-dimensional

Near Antonyms: abysmal, abyssal, bottomless, boundless, endless, immeasurable, inestimable, infinite, limitless, measureless, profound, unfathomable, unlimited, vast; navigable

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at superficial