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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shallow
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Dual ultrasonic sensors identify steps, edges, and shallow platforms, enabling more consistent cleaning across tanning ledges and shallow zones.
—Ie Creative Studio, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
The weather is warm but not sweltering, hovering in the high 70s with little rain—perfect for snorkeling among the coral reefs of Andros, kayaking through the Exumas’ turquoise shallows, or simply sinking into a hammock with a book and beer in hand.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shallow
Adjective
Fill a shallow, wide vessel—even your grandmother’s punch bowl will do—with just enough water to submerge the stems (about 1 to 2 inches, depending on your container).
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Dual ultrasonic sensors identify steps, edges, and shallow platforms, enabling more consistent cleaning across tanning ledges and shallow zones.
—Ie Creative Studio, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
Essentially desert country, its porous, sandy soil is inhospitable to all but a few types of shallow-root crops.
—Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
The weather is warm but not sweltering, hovering in the high 70s with little rain—perfect for snorkeling among the coral reefs of Andros, kayaking through the Exumas’ turquoise shallows, or simply sinking into a hammock with a book and beer in hand.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shallow
Adjective
-
And to folks unfamiliar with the IP system, that makes some superficial sense.—
David J. Kappos,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Whether opting for a superficial peel like a lactic or glycolic acid, a medium-depth peel such as Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA), or deep treatment such as phenol, a chemical peel can address many skin concerns.—
Essence,
Essence,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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An emergency dredging is not needed to clear a hazardous shoal that’s developed at the Oceanside harbor entrance, though the annual dredging could be scheduled earlier than usual next spring, a federal official said Tuesday.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Dec. 2025
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Theories range from the Edmund Fitzgerald striking a shoal and suffering bottom damage to flooding through the freighter's hatch covers, which filled the ship with water and sank it, to rogue waves, to structural flaws in the ship that the 1975 storm made deadly.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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With James Mitchell set to become a restricted free agent, the Panthers could try to bring him back as well.—
Mike Kaye
January 12,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
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In 2022, Johnson was sentenced to 75 days in federal prison and one year of probation after pleading guilty to one count of entering or remaining in any restricted building, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.—
Carter Weinhofer,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Crowds and traffic became such an issue that in 2021, the park began requiring weekend visitors during the February Firefall dates to have reservations as a way to limit congestion and prevent crowds from trampling stream banks and parking illegally along Yosemite Valley’s sensitive meadows.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Most notably, watch here as backup center Oso Ighodaro shuts down Jalen Brunson’s final attempt to tie the score, then Grayson Allen deflects his pass, hustles into the backcourt and banks it off Mikal Bridges’ face and out of bounds.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The wide waistband, which stays in place without feeling constricting, has a seamless design for a smooth look.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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Martha Stewart is 84 years old and has some of the most enviable, smooth, radiant, and seemingly pore-free skin.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The proposal includes a tennis center with multi-surface courts, hotels, water polo facilities, retail, a wellness center and stadium to host soccer matches.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
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When Mars grew cold, the surface water went away, much of it forming sub-surface ice and frozen brines.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Project Cloud Mary Jane Memory Foam Sneakers These Mary Jane ballet sneakers feature a soft foam interior, genuine leather upper, and rubber sole that, somehow, in the best way, resembles a chocolate bar.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
12 Jan. 2026
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Outside of Gillette, fans waited in lines to get into bars at Patriot Place for pregame festivities.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shallow. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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