Illustration of sperm whale
: a very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus synonym P. catodon) that has large conical teeth in the lower jaw, a single blowhole, and a massive squarish head with a closed cavity containing a fluid mixture of spermaceti and oil, and that may reach a length in the male of nearly 60 feet (18.3 meters)
Examples of sperm whale in a Sentence
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On the southern coast, the town of Mirissa is one of three areas where guests can see the congregation of Bryde’s, minke, humpback, and sperm whales.
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Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 May 2025
Stone Age hunter-gatherers may have been particularly interested in sperm whale skeletons, because the creatures are the only toothed species of the group, featuring long, straight jaw bones—perfect for crafting hunting tools, the researchers write in the paper.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
The largest toothed whale species on Earth, sperm whales are found in deep parts of every ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
The sperm whale segment is just one out of dozens and dozens across that 10-hour runtime.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 22 May 2025
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Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 May 2025
Stone Age hunter-gatherers may have been particularly interested in sperm whale skeletons, because the creatures are the only toothed species of the group, featuring long, straight jaw bones—perfect for crafting hunting tools, the researchers write in the paper.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
The largest toothed whale species on Earth, sperm whales are found in deep parts of every ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
The sperm whale segment is just one out of dozens and dozens across that 10-hour runtime.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sperm whale
Cite this Entry
“Sperm whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sperm%20whale. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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