1
as in marine
of or relating to the sea
among pelagic animals the undisputed king is the blue whale, the largest creature currently roaming the face of the earth
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Recent Examples of pelagic
For the advanced, channels around the islands work like pelagic highways, attracting more than 3,000 different marine species.
—
Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
But since these pelagic fish spend most of their time at depths of 1,000 feet or more, and are typically only caught by ocean longliners, scientists are still trying to understand their biology and life histories.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2025
Beginners can explore shallow reefs with abundant marine life, while advanced divers can venture to deeper sites with strong currents and the chance to encounter pelagic species.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2025
The scientists noticed a drop in their prey, such as small pelagic fishes in the case of seals and smaller benthic sharks in the case of sevengill sharks.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pelagic
Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
But since these pelagic fish spend most of their time at depths of 1,000 feet or more, and are typically only caught by ocean longliners, scientists are still trying to understand their biology and life histories.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2025
Beginners can explore shallow reefs with abundant marine life, while advanced divers can venture to deeper sites with strong currents and the chance to encounter pelagic species.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2025
The scientists noticed a drop in their prey, such as small pelagic fishes in the case of seals and smaller benthic sharks in the case of sevengill sharks.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pelagic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelagic
Adjective
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Fisher, who wants to study marine biology at the University of California, San Diego, suggested the pushback against protests missed the point.—
Jeffrey S. Solochek,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
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These days, the buildings are used for marine science education programs.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The phenomenon of a wet, rotating oceanic system pummeling the Northeast produced such legendary storms as the Ash Wednesday storm of 1962, the Blizzard of ‘78 and 1993’s Storm of the Century.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
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Major Arctic wildland fires delay the onset of snow cover by five days, offshore wind farms in the northern Yellow Sea stabilize ecosystems, and microplastics inhibit oceanic carbon uptake.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Tankers are seen at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes on June 23, 2025.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2026
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The picture that emerges is of a deep-sea world far more active and interconnected than surface observations would suggest.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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