shoal Synonyms
Another word for shoal
• noun (Context 1)
A large number of fish or other sea creatures swimming together.
"While snorkeling near the reef, we watched a shimmering school of herring dart through the currents."
• noun (Context 2)
A submerged ridge, bank, or bar of sand or other unconsolidated sediment that rises near the surface of a body of water and poses a hazard to navigation.
"The lighthouse was constructed in the nineteenth century to warn passing ships away from the treacherous offshore shoals."
• noun (Context 3)
A large number of people or things gathered together, or a series of hidden hazards and difficulties.
"The diplomatic team had to steer the treaty negotiations past a multitude of political objections."
• verb (Context 4)
To become shallower (of water or a waterway).
"The bay shoals rapidly near the river mouth due to seasonal sediment deposits."
• verb (Context 5)
To form a large group or swim together in a shoal (of fish).
"Anchovies frequently school in dense formations to protect themselves from larger marine predators."
• adjective (Context 6)
Having little depth; shallow.
"The captain carefully navigated the vessel through the shallow water near the inlet."
Opposites of shoal
The opposite of shoal shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: