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
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Recent Examples of shoal
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025
The same day, two US warships – littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati and the destroyer USS Higgins – were spotted about 30 nautical miles away from the shoal, reported Reuters.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2025
But China has effectively controlled the uninhabited shoal since 2012 by maintaining an almost constant coast guard presence in nearby waters, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Huangyan Island is the name China uses to refer to the shoal, which has been the subject of a maritime dispute between China and the Philippines.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shoal
Noun
Like other black bass, the new species was found in rocky shoals.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025
The same day, two US warships – littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati and the destroyer USS Higgins – were spotted about 30 nautical miles away from the shoal, reported Reuters.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2025
But China has effectively controlled the uninhabited shoal since 2012 by maintaining an almost constant coast guard presence in nearby waters, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Huangyan Island is the name China uses to refer to the shoal, which has been the subject of a maritime dispute between China and the Philippines.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shoal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoal
Adjective
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In a large, shallow Dutch oven, braiser pan, or oven-safe skillet, melt butter over medium-high.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
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The two species grow in branching colonies in shallow water.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Other banks on the deal included BOC International, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China and China Merchants Bank.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
28 Oct. 2025
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And on a barge with 30 elephants on the bank and the sun setting and birds flying over and hippos in the water.—
Daniela Avila,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shoal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoal. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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