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shallow

/ˈʃaləʊ/

When describing water, "shallow" is a literal description of depth. It is the opposite of "deep." When used to describe a person or an idea, it is usually a criticism. It means the person only cares about surface-level things (like looks or money) and lacks emotional or intellectual depth. In medical or health contexts, "shallow breathing" refers to breaths that do not fill the lungs completely.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, both sitting in a boring quarterly review meeting.
Mark

David's take on the brand pivot is so shallow. Total fluff.

Mark
Sarah
Sarah

Fr, he's just coasting while I do all the heavy lifting.

💡
Mark uses 'shallow' to describe David's lack of intellectual depth in his business strategy. Sarah responds using 'Fr' (slang for 'for real') and the idiom 'heavy lifting', which refers to doing the most difficult part of a task.

Meanings

adjective

Of little depth; not deep.

"The children played in the shallow end of the swimming pool."

adjective

Lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; superficial.

"It was a shallow argument that failed to address the core of the issue."

adjective

Not breathing deeply, often due to nervousness or illness.

"Her breathing became shallow and rapid as she grew more anxious."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error