as in shallow
lacking significant physical depth
shoal waters of the bay meant that our ship had to be moored a considerable distance from shore
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shoal
Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
For any shipping hub to flourish in the early days of Great Lakes maritime trade, lighthouses were needed to warn mariners of shoals, and welcome boats to critical harbors which still dot the lakes.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
The shoal lies over 500 miles from China's southernmost province, Hainan, and about 140 miles east of Luzon Island, well within the U.S. ally's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Overall, there are far more rocks and shoals on the economic horizon than fair seas.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shoal
Noun
And for decades, every attempt to create legal access has foundered on the rocky shoals of property rights and lumbering bureaucracy.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
For any shipping hub to flourish in the early days of Great Lakes maritime trade, lighthouses were needed to warn mariners of shoals, and welcome boats to critical harbors which still dot the lakes.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
The shoal lies over 500 miles from China's southernmost province, Hainan, and about 140 miles east of Luzon Island, well within the U.S. ally's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Overall, there are far more rocks and shoals on the economic horizon than fair seas.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shoal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoal
Adjective
-
The viral clip, which has garnered over 188,000 views since it was posted on June 23, shows the whales moving helplessly in shallow waters.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
-
The species typically lives in shallow freshwater ecosystems with muddy or silty floors.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Credit unions and community banks that are making headway are carefully choosing tools that magnify their existing strengths.—
Ashish Garg,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
Investment bank Jefferies' quarterly results missed analysts' forecasts.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shoal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoal. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share