Illustration of sculpin
- sculpin 1
plural sculpins also sculpin
1
: any of a superfamily (Cottoidea) of spiny large-headed usually bottom-dwelling often scaleless bony fishes with large fanlike pectoral fins
2
: a scorpion fish (Scorpaena guttata) of the southern California coast caught for food and sport
Examples of sculpin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Take respectful photos and use your Pocket Guide to identify common species like tidepool sculpin or turban snails.
—
Lillie Mulligan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Dec. 2025
In Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska, a tributary to the Akillik River lost all its juvenile Dolly Varden and slimy sculpin fish after an abrupt increase in stream acidity when the stream turned orange.
—
Matthew L. Druckenmiller,
The Conversation,
16 Dec. 2025
First to show symptoms are the trout, sculpin and other fish swimming in this section of the cold-water stream.
—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
15 Dec. 2025
The flathead sculpin, commonly known as the blobfish, gained widespread popularity after it was named the world's ugliest animal during the 2013 British Science Festival.
—
Greta Cross,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
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Lillie Mulligan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Dec. 2025
In Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska, a tributary to the Akillik River lost all its juvenile Dolly Varden and slimy sculpin fish after an abrupt increase in stream acidity when the stream turned orange.
—
Matthew L. Druckenmiller,
The Conversation,
16 Dec. 2025
First to show symptoms are the trout, sculpin and other fish swimming in this section of the cold-water stream.
—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
15 Dec. 2025
The flathead sculpin, commonly known as the blobfish, gained widespread popularity after it was named the world's ugliest animal during the 2013 British Science Festival.
—
Greta Cross,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sculpin
Cite this Entry
“Sculpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sculpin. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sculpin
noun
scul·pin
ˈskəl-pən 
plural sculpins also sculpin
1
: any of numerous spiny large-headed usually scaleless fishes with fanlike fins
2
: a fish of the southern California coast that has poisonous spines on the fin on the back and is caught for food and sport
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