shah

noun

ˈshä How to pronounce shah (audio)
ˈshȯ
variants often Shah
Synonyms of shahnext
: a sovereign of Iran
shahdom
ˈshä-dəm How to pronounce shah (audio)
ˈshȯ-
noun

Examples of shah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Many of them urged the shah to toughen up and crack down harder on protesters. — Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 Shah treats daytime exertion as the precondition for nighttime rest, rather than the opposite. — Angela Haupt, Time, 15 May 2026 Show more Pahlavi is the son of Iran’s former shah, who was so widely hated that millions took to the streets in 1979 to force him from power. — Nbc News, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026 Pahlavi, 65, is the son of Iran’s former shah, who was so widely hated that millions took to the streets in 1979 to force him from power. — Markus Schreiber, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shah

Word History

Etymology

Persian shāh king — more at check

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shah was in 1566

Rhymes for shah

See All Rhymes for shah

Browse Nearby Words

shagreen
shah
Shahaptian
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shah. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shah

noun
ˈshä How to pronounce shah (audio)
ˈshȯ
: a ruler of Iran until the 1979 revolution

More from Merriam-Webster on shah

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shah

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shah

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